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THE HISTORY 

OF THE 

Five Indian Nations 

OF CANADA 

WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON THE PROVINCE OF 

NEW YORK, AND ARE A BARRIER BETWEEN 

THE ENGLISH AND THE FRENCH IN 

THAT PART OF THE WORLD 



By 



Hon. CADWALLADER GOLDEN 

M 



WITH MAP 



IN TWO VOLUMES 



VOL I, 



NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS: NEW YORK, 1902 



THE LIBRARY OF 

CONQRFSS. 
One Copy R«»eiv«b 

DEC. n 1902 

CO«>V1«OHT UNTWV 

COPY A. 



/^. 






Registered at the 
Library of Congress, A ugust igos 

by 

NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY 



Published, August 1902. N. 



I NTRO D UCTION. 

On the deatli of Lieutenant-Governor de 
Lancy, in 1760, Cadwallader Golden, as 
President of the Council, came to New York, 
took up his residence at the Province House 
in the fort, and administered the Govern- 
ment until his appointment as Lieutenant- 
Governor, which took place in August, 1761. 

"Governor Golden," says Verplanck, "was 
a scholar of various and extensive attain- 
ments, and of very great and unremitted 
ardor and application in the acquisition of 
knowledge. AYhen it is considered how 
large a portion of his life was spent in the 
labors or the routine of public office and that, 
however great might have been his original 
stock of learning, he had in this country no 
reading public to excite him by their ap- 
plause, and few literary friends to assist or 
to stimulate his inquiries, his zeal and suc- 
cess in his scientific pursuits will appear de- 
serving of the highest admiration. A great 

mass of manuscripts on mathematical, botani- 
iii 



INTRODUCTION. 

cal, metaphysical, and theological learning, 
in addition to the works published during 
his life, affords ample proof of the extent and 
variety of his knowledge, and the strength, 
the acuteness and the versatility of his intel- 
lect." 

Cadwallader Golden was the son of the 
Eev. Alexander Golden, minister of an ob- 
scure parish in Scotland, but was born on the 
17th of February, 1688, in Ireland. Young 
Golden was destined by his father for the 
ministry and was sent to the University of 
Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1705. 
Not caring for his father's profession, he re- 
paired to London and began the study of 
Medicine. Five years later he came to 
America and practised his profession in 
Pennsylvania for a considerable time. After 
a brief visit to England, he came to New 
York, where he formed the acquaintance of 
Governor Hunter, who offered him the posi- 
tion of Surveyor-G-eneral of the Golony. 
Thereafter emoluments and honors came 
upon him thick and fast. He was made a 
Master in Ghancery, though why, it is hard 
to say. He was called to a seat in the Goun- 
cil, a body of gentlemen elected by the Crown, 



INTRODUCTION. 

and forming the upper legislative house in 
the Colony. Governor Hunter stood his 
friend, -and it was owing to his support that 
a grant of two thousand acres of land in what 
is now the town of Montgomery, Orange 
County, was bestowed upon him. He re- 
ceived another grant of one thousand acres 
which he called the Manor of Coldengham. 
He was now one of the great land-owners of 
the Colony. 

Shea, in commenting upon his rapid ad- 
vance in influence and wealth, states that 
Colden " was unremitting and zealous in his 
labor, adhering firmly to the royal Governors 
— while others fought only to mimic the 
Capital in show and parade, Colden went to 
work to study the climate, geography, na- 
tive inhabitants, civic and political inter- 
ests of the Colony." 

Cadwallader Colden was regarded as the 
best-informed man in the new world on the 
affairs of the British-American Colonies. 
Shea states that "he is spoken of as better 
versed than any other in the geography of 
the country, and his writings show that he 
was an early and careful observer of the cli- 
mate and its influence on health. " That he 

V 



INTRODUCTION. 

was highly regarded by the Indians may be 
seen from the fact that he was adopted by 
the Mohawks of Canajoharie. 

This brings us to " The History of the Five 
Indian Nations." Mr. Shea says it was writ- 
ten " to lay more completely before the pub- 
lic the importance of the Five Nations — or 
Iroquois — to the Colony of New York, as a 
barrier against the French and a means of 
controlling the West." There is no doubt 
that the book was Avritten with a political 
motive, and it may have been necessary to 
teach the King and Council, Lords of Trade 
and other ruling powers, the real position, 
influence and power of the Iroquois Confed- 
eracy. But Colden was too well informed a 
man not to perceive that the day would come 
when every scrap of authentic information in 
regard to the Indians would be valuable. 
He had access to sources of information by 
reason of his official position not usually open 
to writers, of Avhich he made remarkable use. 

Colden wrote many political pamphlets, 
scientific studies, and other works besides his 
"History of the Five Indian Nations," none 
of which it will be necessary to allude to 
here. He was a very busy and industrious 



INTRODUCTION. 

man, and lie lived to the protracted age of 
eighty-seven years. He died at Spring Hill, 
near Flushing on Long Island, on the 21st of 
September, 1776. His wife had predeceased 
him several years, having died at Fort 
George, in March 1762. 

Mr. Shea calls attention to the remarkable 
fact that no life of Cadwallader Colden has 
been written. "It reflects little credit on 
New York," he says, "that none of her sons 
have endeavored to present to the million 
readers of the State the life of Cadwallader 
Colden, a man whose scientific and philosoph- 
ical mind, insuring him fame in any field 
of life that he might have selected, was de- 
voted for nearly half a century to the devel- 
opment, interests, and government of the 
Colony of New York. But his labors are 
almost forgotten, his learned works accessible 
to few, his manuscripts, though safe in the 
New York Historical Society, accessible to 
still fewer, and except to antiquaries and col- 
lectors his very existence almost a myth. 
No public monument, no college nor semi- 
nary of learning, recalls the memory of one 
who in electricity and other branches of nat- 
ural philosophy was the valued associate of 
vii 



INTRODUCTION. 

Franklin, who corresponded with Linnseus, 
Gronovius, and Bartram on Botany, with 
eminent physicians in both hemispheres on 
the science of medicine, with the Earl of 
Macclesfield on Astronomy and Philosophy, 
whose reports to Government stand out amid 
the mass of tedious official documents by the 
freshness, vigor, and originality of their 
views, no less than by their scientific value 
as treatises." Robert Waite. 

New York, July, 1902. 



viii 



TO THE HONOURABLE 

GENERAL 

OGLETHORPE 

SIR, 

The Indian Affairs have ever appeared to 
your Judgment of such Importance to the 
Welfa,re of our own People, that you have 
ever carefully applied your Thoughts to 
them ; and that with such Success, that not 
only the present Generation will enjoy the 
Benefit of your Care, but our latest Posterity 
bless your Memory for that Happiness, the 
Foundation of which was laid under your 
Care, provided that the People here, whose 
Duty and Interest is chiefly concerned, do on 
their own Parts second your Endeavours, 
towards securing the Peace, and advancing 
the Prosperity of their Country. 

The following Account of the Five Indian 
Nations will shew what dangerous Neigh- 
bours the Indians have once been; what 
Pains a neighbouring Colony (whose Interest 
ix 



DEDICATION. 

is opposite to ours) has taken to withdraw 
their Affections from us ; and how much we 
ought to be on our Guard. If we only con- 
sider the Riches which our Enemies receive 
from the Indian Trade (though we were un- 
der no Apprehensions from the Indians them- 
selves) it would be highly imprudent in us to 
suffer such Peoj^le to grow Rich and Power- 
ful, while it is in our Power to prevent it, 
with much less Charge and Trouble, than it 
is in theirs to accomplish their Designs. 

These Considerations alone are sufficient to 
make the Indian Affairs deserve the most se- 
rious Thoughts of every Governor in America. 
But I well know, besides ; that your Excel- 
lency's Views are not confined to the Interest 
of one Country only. 

The Eive Nations are a poor and, gener- 
ally called, barbarous People, bred under the 
darkest Ignorance ; and yet a bright and no- 
ble Genius shines through these black 
Clouds. None of the greatest Roman He- 
roes have discovered a greater Love to their 
Country, or a greater Contempt of Death, 
than these People called Barbarians have 
done, when Liberty came in Competition. 
Indeed, I think our Indians have outdone 
the Romans in this Particular ; some of the 
greatest of those have we know murdered 
s 



DEDICATION. 

themselves to avoid Shame or Torments ; but 
our Indians have refused to die meanly, or 
with but little Pain, when they thought their 
Country's Honour would be at Stake by it*; 
but have given their Bodies, willingly, to the 
most cruel Torments of their Enemies, to 
shew, as they said, that the Five iSTations 
consisted of Men, whose Courage and Eeso- 
lution could not be shaken. They greatly 
sully, however, those noble Virtues, by that 
cruel Passion, Kevenge; this they think it 
not only lawful, but honourable, to exert 
without Mercy on their Country's Enemies, 
and for this only it is that they can deserve 
the Name of Barbarians. 

But what, alas! Sir, have we Christians 
done to make them better? We have indeed 
Reason to be ashamed, that these Infidels, 
by our Conversation and Keighbourhood, are 
become worse than they were before they 
knew lis. Instead of Virtues we have only 
taught them Vices, that they were intirely 
free from before that Time. The narrow 
Views of private Interest have occasioned 
this, and will occasion greater, even publick 
Mischiefs, if the Governors of the People do 
not, like true Patriots, exert themselves, and 
put a Stop to these growing Evils. If these 

*This will appear by several Instances in the 
Second Part of this History. 



DEDICATION. 

Practices be winked at, instead of faithful 
Friends, that have manfully fought our "Bat- 
tles for us, the Five Nations will become 
faithless Thieves and Robbers, and join with 
every Enemy that can give them any Hopes 
of Plunder. 

If Care were taken to plant and cultivate 
in them that general Benevolence to Man- 
kind, which is the true first Principle of Vir- 
tue, it would effectually eradicate those horrid 
Vices, occasioned by their unbounded Re- 
venge ; and then they would no longer deserve 
the Name of Barbarians, but would become a 
People, whose Friendship might add Honour 
to the British Nation. 

The Greeks and Romans, Sir, once as much 
Barbarians as our Indians now are, deified the 
Heroes that first taught them those Virtues, 
from whence the Grandeur of those renowned 
Nations wholly proceeded ; a good Man, how- 
ever, will feel more real Satisfaction and 
Pleasure, from the Sense of having any Way 
forwarded the Civilizing of a barbarous Na- 
tion, or of having multiplied the Number of 
good Men, than from the fondest Hopes of 
such extravagant Honours. 

These Considerations, I believe, will in- 
duce you. Sir, to think a History of the Five 
Nations not unworthy of your Patronage; 
xii 



DEDICATION. 

and on these only it is that I presume to 
offer my best Endeavours in this, who am, 
with the greatest Kespect, 

SIK, 

Yotir most obedient, 

and inost humble Servant, 

CADWALLADER GOLDEN. 



xiii 



THE 

INTRODUCTION, 

BEING 

A Short View of the Form of Government of 
the Five Nations, and of their Laws, Cus- 
toms, etc. 

It is necessary to know something of the 
Form of Government of the People, whose 
History one is about to know, and a few 
Words will be sufficient to give the Eeader a 
Conception of that of the Five Nations, be- 
cause it still remains under original Simplic- 
ity, and free from those complicated Contri- 
vances, which have become necessary to the 
Nations, where Deceit and Cunning have in- 
creased as much as their Knowledge and 
Wisdom. 

The Five Nations (as their Name denotes) 
consist of so many Tribes or Nations, joined 
together by a League or Confederacy, like the 
United Provinces, and without any Superior-- 
ity of the one over the other. This Union 
has continued so long, that the Christians 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

know nothing of the Original of it : The Peo- 
ple in it are known by the English under tlie 
Names of Mohawks, Oneydoes, Onondagas, 
Cayugas, and Sennekas. 

Each of these Nations is again divided into 
three Tribes or Families, who distinguish 
themselves by three different Arms or En- 
signs, the Tortoise, the Bear, and the Wolf; 
and tlie Sachems, or old Meii of these Fami- 
lies, put this Ensign, or Mark of their Family, 
to every publick Paper, when they sign it. 

Each of these Nations is an absolute Ee- 
publick by itself, and every Castle in each 
Nation makes an independent Eepublick, and 
is govern' d in all publick Affairs by its own 
Sachems or old Men. The Authority of 
these Rulers isgain'dby, and consists wholly 
in the Opinion the rest of the Nation have of 
their AVisdom and Integrity. They never 
execute their Resolutions by Force upon any 
of their People. Honour and Esteem are 
their principal Rewards; as Shame, and 
being despised, their Punishments. They 
have certain Customs, which they observe in 
their publick Transactions with other Na- 
tions, and in their private Affairs among 
themselves; which it is scandalous for any 
one among them not to observe, and these 
always draw after them either publick or pri- 
vate Resentment, whenever they are broke. 

Their Leaders and Captains, in like Man- 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

ner, obtain their Authority, by the general 
Opinion of their Courage and Conduct, and 
lose it by a failure in those Virtues.. 

Their great Men, both Sachems and Cap- 
tains, are generally poorer than the common 
People ; for they affect to give away and dis- 
tribute all the Presents or Plunder they get 
in their Treaties or in War, so as to leave 
nothing to themselves. There is not a Man 
in the Ministry of the Five Nations, who has 
gain'd his Office, otherwise than by Merit; 
there is not the least Salary, or any Sort of 
Profit, annexed to any Office, to tempt the 
Covetous or Sordid; but, on the contrary, 
every unworthy Action is unavoidably at- 
tended with the Forfeiture of their Commis- 
sion ; for their Authority is only the Esteem 
of the People, and ceases the Moment that 
Esteem is lost. Here we see the natural 
Origin of all Power and Authority among a 
free People, and whatever artificial Power or 
Sovereignty any Man may have acquired, by 
the Laws and Constitution of a Country, his 
real Power will be ever much greater or less, 
in Proportion to the Esteem the People have 
of him. 

The Five Nations think themselves by Na- 
ture superior to the rest of Mankind, and call 
themselves Ongue-honwe ; that is. Men sur- 
passing all others. This Opinion, which 
they take Care to cultivate into their Chil- 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

dren, gives them that Courage, which has 
been so terrible to all the Nations of North 
America ; and they have taken such Care to 
impress the same Opinion of their People on 
all their Neighbours, that they, on all Occa- 
eions, yield the most submissive Obedience 
%o them. I have been told by old Men in 
New England, who remembred the Time 
when the MohaAvks made War on their In- 
dians, that as soon as a single Mohawk was 
discover' d in the Country, their Indians 
i-aised a Cry from Hill to Hill, A Mohawk ! 
A Mohawk! upon which they all lied like 
Sheep before Wolves, Avithout attempting to 
make the least Resistance, whatever Odds 
were on their Side. The poor New England 
Indians immediately ran to the Christian 
Houses, and the Mohawks often pursued 
them so closely, that they entered along 
with them, and knocked their Brains out in 
the Presence of the People of the House; 
but if the Family had Time to shut the Door, 
they never attempted to force it, and on no 
Occasion did any Injury to the Christians. 
All the Nations round them have, for many 
Years, intirely submitted to them, and pay a 
yearly Tribute to them in Wampum * : they 

* Wampum is the Current Money among the In- 
dians: It is of two Sorts, White and Purple; the 
White is worked out of the Inside of the great 
Conques into the Form of a Bead, and perforated, 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

dare neither make War nor Peace, without 
the Consent of the ^lohawks. Two old Men 
commonly go about every Year or two, to re- 
ceive this Tribute ; and I have often had Op- 
portunity to observe what Anxiety the poor 
Indians were under, while these two old Men 
remained in that Part of the Country where I 
was. An old Mohawk Sachem, in a poor 
Blanket and a dirty Shirt, may be seen issu- 
ing his Orders with as arbitrary an Author- 
ity, as a Roman Dictator. It is not for the 
Sake of Tribute however, that they make 
War, but from the Notions of Glory, which 
they have ever most strongly imprinted on 
their Minds ; and the farther they go to seek 
an Enemy, the greater Glory they think they 
gain ; there cannot, I think, be a greater or 
stronger Instance than this, how much the 
Sentiments, impressed upon a People's mind, 
conduce to their Grandeur, or one that more 
verifies a Saying often to be met with, though 
but too little minded, That it is in the Power 
of the Rulers of a People to make them either 

to string on Leather; the Purpie is worked out of 
the Inside of the Muscle Shell ; they aie wove as 
broad as one's Hand, and about two Feet long; 
these they call Belts, and give and receive at their 
Treaties as the Seals of Friendship ; for lesser Mat- 
ters a single String is given. Every Bead is of a 
known Value, and a Belt of a less Number, is made 
to equal one of a greater, by so many as is wanting 
fastened to the Belt by a String. 
xix 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

Great or Little ; for by inculcating only the 
Notions of Honour and Virtue, or those of 
Luxury and Riches, the People, in a little 
Time, will become such as their Rulers de- 
sire. The Five Nations, in their Love of 
Liberty, and of their Country, in their Brav- 
ery in Battle, and their Constancy in endur- 
ing Torments, equal the Fortitude of the most 
renowned Romans. I shall finish their gen- 
eral Character by what an Enemy, a French- 
man, says of them. Monsieur De la Poterie, 
in his History of North America. 

" When we speak (says he) of the Five Na- 
tions in France, they are thought, by a com- 
mon Mistake, to be mere Barbarians, always 
thirsting after human Blood ; but their true 
Character is very different. They are indeed 
the fiercest and most formidable People in 
North America, and, at the same Time, are 
as politick and judicious, as well can be con- 
ceived ; and this appears from the Manage- 
ment of all the Affairs which they transact, 
not only with the French and English, but 
likewise with almost all the Indian Nations 
of this vast Continent." 

Their Matters of Consequence, which con- 
cern all the Nations, are transacted in a gen- 
eral Meeting of the Sachems of each Nation. 
These Conventions are commonly held at 
Onnondaga, which is nearly the Center of 
their Country ; but they have fixed on Albany 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

for the Place of treating with the British 
Colonies. 

They strictly follow one Maxim, formerly 
used by the Romans to increase their 
Strength, that is, they encourage the People 
of other Nations to incorporate with them; 
and when they have subdued any People, 
after they have satiated their Revenge by 
some cruel Examples, they adopt the rest of 
their Captives ; Avho, if they behave well, 
become equally esteemed with their own Peo- 
ple; so that some of their Captives have 
afterwards become their greatest Sachems 
and Captains. The Tuskaroras, after the 
War they had with the People of Carolina, 
fled to the Five Nations, and are now incor- 
porated with them ; so that they now pro- 
perly indeed consist of six Nations, though 
they still retain the old Name of the Five 
Nations among the English. The Cowetas 
also, or Creek-Indians, are in the same 
Friendship with them. 

The Tuskaroras, since they came under the 
Province of New York, behave themselves 
well, and remain peaceable and quiet; and 
by this may be seen the Advantage of using 
the Indians well, and I believe, if they were 
still better used (as there is Room enough to 
do it) they would be proportionably more 
useful to us. 

The Cruelty the Indians use in their Wars, 
xxi 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

towards those that do not or cannot resist, 
such as Women and Children, and to their 
Prisoners, after they have them in their 
Power, is deservedly indeed held in Abhor- 
rence: But wlioever reads the History of the 
so famed ancient Heroes, will find them, I'm 
afraid, not much better in this Kespect. 
Does Achilles' s Behaviour to Hector's dead 
Body, in Homer, appear less savage? This 
Cruelty is also not peculiar to the Five Na- 
tions, but equally practised by all other In- 
dians. It is wonderful, how Custom and 
Education are able to soften the most horrid 
Actions, even among a polite and learned 
People ; witness the Carthaginians and Phoe- 
nicians burning their own Children alive in 
Sacrifice ; and several Passages in the Jewish 
History; and witness, in later Times, the 
Christians burning one another alive, for 
God's Sake. 

When any of the young Men of these Na- 
tions have a Mind to signalize themselves, 
and to gain a Reputation among their Coun- 
trymen, by some notable Enterprize against 
their Enemy, they at first communicate their 
Design to two or three of their most intimate 
Friends ; and if they come into it, an Invita- 
tion is made, in their Names, to all the young 
Men of the Castle, to feast on Dog's Flesh; 
but whether this be, because Dog's Flesh is 
most agreeable to Indian Palates, or whether 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

it be as an Emblem of Fidelity, for which the 
Dog is distinguished by all Nations, that it 
is always used on this Occasion, I have not 
sufficient Information to determine. When 
the Company is met, the Promoters of the 
Enterprize set forth the Undertaking in the 
best Colours they can; they boast of what 
they intend to do, and incite others to join, 
from the Glory there is to be obtained ; and 
all who eat of the Dog's Flesh, thereby inlist 
themselves. 

The Night before they set out, they make 
a grand Feast, to this all the noted Warriors 
of the Nation are invited; and here they have 
their War Dance, to the Beat of a Kind of a 
Kettle-drum. The Warriors are seated in 
two Rows in the House, and each rises up m 
his Turn, and sings the great Acts he has 
himself performed, and the Deeds of his An- 
cestors ; and this is always accompanied with 
a Kind of a Dance, or rather Action, repre- 
senting the Manner in which they were per- 
formed; and from Time to Time, all present 
join in a Chorus, applauding every notable 
Act. They exaggerate the Injuries they 
have at any Time received from their Ene- 
mies, and extol the Glory which -any of their 
Ancestors have gained by their Bravery and 
Courage ; so that they work up their Spirits 
to a high Degree of warlike Enthusiasm. I 
have sometimes persuaded some of their 
xxiii 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

young Indians to act these Dances, for our 
Diversion, and to show us the Manner of 
them; and even, on these Occasions, they 
have work'd themselves up to such a Pitch, 
that they have made all present uneasy. Is 
it not probable, that such Designs as these 
have given the first Rise to Tragedy? 

They come to these Dances with their Faces 
painted in a frightful Manner, as they always 
are when they go to War, to make themselves 
terrible to their Enemies ; and in this Manner 
the Night is spent. Next Day they march 
out with much Formality, dressed in their 
finest Apparel, and, in their March, observe 
a profound Silence. An Officer of the regu- 
lar Troops told me, that while he was Com- 
mandant of Fort-Hunter, the Mohawks, on 
one of these Occasions, told him, that they 
expected the usual Military Honours as they 
passed the Garison. Accordingly he drew 
out his Garison, the Men presented their 
Pieces as the Indians passed, and the Drum 
beat a March; and with less Respect, the 
Officer said, they would have been dissatis- 
fied. The Indians passed in a single Row, 
one after another, with great gravity and 
profound Silence ; and every one of them, as 
he passed the Officer, took his Gun from his 
Shoulder, and fired into the Ground near the 
Officer's Foot: They marched in this Manner 
three or four Miles from their Castle. The 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

Women, on these Occasions, always follow 
tlieni with their old Clothes, and they send 
back by them their Finery in which they 
marched from the Castle. But before tliey 
go from this Place, where they exchange 
their Clothes, they always peel a large Piece 
of the Bark from some great Tree ; they com- 
monly chuse an Oak, as most lasting; upon 
the smooth Side of this Wood they, with 
their red Paint, draw one or more Canoes, 
going from Home, with the Number of Men 
in them padling, which go upon the Expedi- 
tion ; and some Animal, as a Deer or Fox, 
an Emblem of the Nation against which the 
Expedition is designed, is painted at the 
Head of the Canoes ; for they always travel 
in Canoes along the Rivers, which lead to the 
Country against which the Expedition is de- 
signed, as far as they can. 

After the Expedition is over, they stop at 
the same Place in their Return, and send to 
their Castle, to inform their Friends ol their 
Arrival ; that they may be prepared to ^ive 
them a solemn Reception, suited to the Suc- 
cess they have had. In the mean Time, they 
represent on the same, or some Tree near it, 
the Event of the Enterprize, and now the 
Canoes are painted with their Heads turned 
towards the Castle ; the Number of the En- 
emy killed, is represented by Scalps painted 
black, and the Number of Prisoners by as 

XXV 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

many AViths, (in their Painting not unlike 
Pot-hooks) with which they usually pinion 
their Captives. These Trees are the Annals, 
or rather Trophies of the Five Nations: I 
have seen many of them ; and by them , and 
their War Songs, they preserve the History 
of their great Achievements. The solemn 
Keception of these Warriors, and the Accla- 
mations of Applause, which they receive at 
their Keturn, cannot but have in the Hearers 
the same Effect, in raising an Emulation for 
Glory, that a Triumph had on the old Romans. 
After their Prisoners are secured, they 
never offer them the least Male -treatment, 
but, on the contrary, will rather starve them- 
selves, than suffer them to want ; and I have 
been always assured, that there is not one In- 
stance, of their offering the least Violence to 
the Chastity of any Woman that was their 
Captive. But notwithstanding this, the 
poor Prisoners afterwards undergo severe 
Punishments before they receive the last 
Doom of Life or Death. The Warriors 
think it for their Glory, to lead them 
through all the Villages of the Nations sub- 
ject to them, which lie near the Road ; and 
these, to shew their Affection to the Five Na- 
tions, and their Abhorrence of their Enemies, 
draw up in two Lines, through which the 
poor Prisoners, stark naked, must run the 
Ga-untlet; and on this Occasion, it is always 
xxvi 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

observed, the Women are much more cruel 
than the Men. The Prisoners meet with the 
same sad Keception when they reach their 
Journey's End; and after this, they are pre- 
sented to those that have lost any Kelation in 
that or any former Eiiterprize. If the Cap- 
tives be accei)ted, there is an End to their 
Sorrow from that Moment ; they are dressed 
as fine as they can make them ; they are ab- 
solutely free (except to return to their own 
Country) and enjoy all the Privileges the Per- 
son had, in whose Place they are accepted; 
but if otherwise they die in Torments, to sa- 
tiate the Kevenge of those that refuse them. 

If a young Man or Boy be received in Place 
of a Husband that was killed, all the Children 
of the Deceased call that Boy Father ; so that 
one may sometimes hear a ]\ran of thirty say, 
that such a Boy of fifteen or twenty is his 
Father. 

Their Castles are generally a Square sur- 
rounded with Palisadoes, without any Bas- 
tions or Out-works; for, since the general 
Peace, their Villages lie all open. 

Their only Instruments of War are Mus- 
quets, Hatchets, and long sharp pointed 
Knives ; these they always carry about with 
them : Their hatchet, in War-time, is stuck 
in their Girdle behind them ; and besides what 
Use they make of this Weapon in their Hand, 
they have a dexterous Way of throwing it, 
xxvii 



THE INTKODUCTION. 

which I have seen them often practise in 
their Exercise, by throwing it into a Tree at 
a Distance: They have, in this, the Art of 
directing and regulating the Motion, so that 
though the Hatchet turns round as it flies, 
the Edge always sticks in the Tree, and near 
the Place at which they aim it. The Use of 
Bows and Arrows are now intirely laid aside, 
except among the Boys, who are still very 
dexterous in killing Fowls and other Animals 
with them. 

They use neither Drum nor Trumpet, nor 
any Kind of musical Instrument in their 
Wars ; their Throats serve them on all Occa- 
sions, where such are necessary. Many of 
them have a surprising Faculty of raising 
their Voice, not only in inarticulate Sounds, 
but likewise to make their Words understood 
at a great Distance; and we find the same 
was practised by Homer's Heroes, 

Thrice to its Pitch his lofty Voice he rears, — 
Friend ! Ulysses Shouts invade my Ears. 

The Five Nations have such absolute No- 
tions of Liberty, that they allow of no Kind 
of Superiority of one over another, and ban- 
ish all Servitude from their Territories. They 
never make any Prisoner a Slave; but it is 
customary among them to make a Compli- 
ment of Naturalization into the Five Nations ; 
and, considering how highly they value them- 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

selves above all others, this must be no small 
Compliment. This is not done by any gen- 
eral Act of the Nation, but every single Per- 
son has a Right to it, by a Kind of Adoption. 
The first Time I was among the Mohawks, I 
had this Compliment from one of their old 
Sachems, which he did, by giving me his own 
Name, Cayenderongue. He had been a not- 
able Warrior J and he told me, that now I 
had a Right to assume to myself all the Acts 
of Valour he had performed, and that now 
my Name would echo from Hill to Hill all 
over the Five Nations. As for my Part, I 
thought no more of it at that Time, than as 
an Artifice to draw a Belly full of strong Li- 
quor from me, for himself and his Compan- 
ions; but when about ten or twelve Years 
afterwards, my Business led me again among 
them, I directed the Interpreter to say some- 
thing from me to the Sachems ; he was for 
some Time at a Loss to understand their An- 
swer, till he had asked me whether I had any 
Name among them : I then found that I was 
really known to them by that Name, and that 
the old Sachem, from the Time he had given 
me his Name, had assumed another to him- 
self. I was adopted, at that Time, into the 
Tribe of the Bear, and, for that Reason, I 
often afterwards had the kind Compliment of 
Brother Bear. 

The Hospitality of these Indians is no less 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

remarkable, than their other Virtues ; as soon 
as any Stranger comes, they are sure to offer 
him Victuals. If there be several in Com- 
pany, and come from a-far, one of their best 
Houses is cleaned and given up for their En- 
tertainment. Their Complaisance, on these 
Occasions, goes even farther than Christian 
Civilit}^ allows of, as they have no other Rule 
for it, than the furnishing their Guest with 
every Thing they think will be agreeable to 
him; for this Reason, some of their prettiest 
Girls are always ordered to wash themselves, 
and dress in their best Apparel, in Order to 
be presented to the Stranger, for his Choice; 
and the young Lady, who has the Honour to 
be preferred on these Occasions, performs all 
the Duties of a fond Wife, during the Strang- 
er's Stay: But this last Piece of Hospitality 
is now either laid aside by the Mohawks, or, 
at least, they never offer it to any Christian. 
This Nation indeed has laid aside many of its 
ancient Customs, and so likewise have the 
other Nations, with whom we are best ac- 
quainted; and have adopted many of ours; 
so that it is not easy now to distinguish 
their original and genuine Manners, from 
those which they have lately acquired ; and for 
this Reason it is, that they now seldom offer 
Victuals to Persons of any Distinction, be- 
cause they know, that their Food and Cook- 
ery is not agreeable to our delicate Palates. 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

Their Men value themselves, in having all 
Kind of Food in equal Esteem. A Mohawk 
Sachem told me with a Kind of Pride, That 
a Man eats every Thing without Distinction, 
Bears, Cats, Dogs, Snakes, Frogs, «&c., inti- 
mating, that it is Womanish, to have any 
Delicacy in the Choice of Food. 

I can however give two strong Instances of 
the Hospitality of the Mohawks, which fell 
under my own Observation ; and which shew, 
that they have the very same Notion of Hos- 
pitality, which we find in the ancient Poets. 
When I was last in the Mohawks Country, the 
Sachems told me, that they had an English- 
man among their People, a Servant who had 
run from his Master in New York. I imme- 
diately told them, that they must deliver him 
up. No, they answered, we never serve any 
Man so, who puts himself under our Protec- 
tion. On this I insisted on the Injury they 
did thereby to his Master ; and they allowed 
it might be an Injury, and replied, though 
we never will deliver him up, we are willing 
to pay the Value of the Servant to the Mas- 
ter. Another Man made his Escape from the 
Goal of Albany, where he was in Prison on 
an Execution for Debt; the Mohawks re- 
ceived him, and, as they protected him 
against the Sheriff and his Officers, they not 
only paid the Debt for him, but gave him 
Land, over and above sufficient for a good 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

Farm, whereon he lived when I was last 
there. To this it may be added, all their 
extraordinary Visits are accompanied with 
giving and receiving Presents of some Value; 
as we learn likewise from Homer was the 
Practice in old Times. 

Polygamy is not usual among them ; and 
indeed, in any Nation, where all are on a 
Par, as to Riches and Power, Plurality of 
Wives cannot well be introduced. As all 
Kind of Slavery is banished from the Coun- 
tries of the Five Nations, so they keep them- 
selves free also from the Bondage of Wed- 
lock ; and when either of the Parties becomes 
disgusted, they separate without Formality 
or Ignominy to either, unless it be occasioned 
by some scandalous Offence in one of them. 
And in Case of Divorce, the Children, ac- 
cording to the natural Course of all Animals, 
follow the Mother. The Women here bring 
forth their Children with as much Ease as 
other Animals, and without the Help of a 
Midwife, and, soon after their Delivery, re- 
turn to their usual Employment. They alone 
also perform all the Drudgery about their 
Houses, they plant their Corn, and labour it, 
in every Respect, till it is brought to the 
Table : They likewise cut all their Fire-wood, 
and bring it Home on their Backs, and in 
their Marches bear the Burdens. The Men 
disdain all Kind of Labour, and employ 
xxxii 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

themselves alone in Hunting, as the only- 
proper Business for Soldiers. At Times, 
when it is not proper to hunt, one finds the 
old Men in Companies, in Conversation ; the 
young Men at their Exercises, shooting at 
Marks, throwing the Hatchet, Wrestling, or 
Eunning, and the Women all busy at Labour 
in the Fields. 

On these Occasions, the State of Lacedse- 
mon ever occurs to my Mind, which tha.t of the 
Five Nations, in many Res^^ects, resembles; 
their Laws, or Customs, being, in both, 
form'd to render the INIinds and Bodies of 
the People lit for War. 

Theft is very scandalous among them ; and 
it is necessary it should be so among all In- 
dians, since they have no Locks, but those of 
their ]\Iinds, to preserve their Goods. 

There is one Vice which the Indians have 
all fallen into, since their Acquaintance with 
the Christians, and of which they could not 
be guilty before that Time, that is. Drunken- 
ness : It is strange, how all the Indian Na- 
tions, and almost every Person among them, 
Male and Female, are infatuatad with the 
Love of strong Drink ; they know no Bounds 
to their Desire, wliile they can swallow it 
down, and then indeed the greatest Man 
among them scarcely deserves the Name of a 
Brute. 

They never have been taught to conquer 
xxxiii 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

any Passion, but by some contrary Passion ; 
and the Traders, with whom they chiefly 
converse, are so far from giving them any 
Abhorrence of this Vice, that they encourage 
it all they can, not only for the Profit of the 
Liquor they sell, but that they may have an 
Opportunity to impose upon them. And 
this, as they chiefly drink Si3irits, has de- 
stroyed greater Numbers, than all their Wars 
and Diseases put together. 

The People of the Five Nations are much 
given to Speech-making, ever the natural 
Consequence of a perfect Republican Govern- 
ment : Where no single Person has a Power 
to compel, the Arts of Persuasion alone must 
prevail. As their best Speakers distinguish 
themselves in their publick Councils and 
Treaties with other Nations, and thereby gain 
the Esteem and Applause of their Country- 
men, (the only Superiority which any one of 
them has over the others) it is probable they 
apply themselves to this Art, by some Kind 
of Study and Exercise, in a great Measure. 
It is impossible for me to judge how far they 
excel, as I am ignorant of their Language; 
but the Speakers whom I have heard, had all 
a great Fluency of Words, and much more 
Grace in their Manner, than any Man could 
expect, among a People intirely ignorant of 
all the liberal Arts and Sciences. 

I am informed, that they are very nice in 
xxxiv 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

the Turn of their Expressions, and that few 
of themselves are so far Masters of their Lan- 
guage, as never to offend the Ears of their 
Indian Auditory, by an unpolite Expression. 
They have, it seems, a certain Urbcmitas, or 
Atticism, in their language, of which the com- 
mon Ears are ever sensible, though only their 
great Speakers attain to it. They are so 
much given to Speecii-making, that their 
common Complements, to any Person they 
respect, at meeting and parting, are made in 
Harangues. 

They have some Kind of Elegancy in vary- 
ing and compounding their Words, to which, 
not many of themselves attain, and this prin- 
cipally distinguishes their best Speakers. I 
have endeavoured to get some Account of 
this, as a Thing that might be acceptable to 
the Curious ; but, as I have not met with any 
one Person who understands their Language, 
and also knows any Thing of Grammar, or of 
the learned Languages, I have not been able 
to attain the least Satisfaction. Tlieir pres- 
ent Minister tells me, that their Verbs are 
varied, but in a Manner so different from the 
Greek or Latin, that he cannot discover by 
what Kule it was done; and even suspects, 
that every Verb has a peculiar Mode : They 
have but few radical Words, but they com- 
pound their Words without End; by this 
their Language becomes sufficiently copious, 

XXXV 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

and leaves Eoom for a good Deal of Art to 
please a delicate Ear. Sometimes one Word 
among them includes an entire Definition of 
the Thing; for Example, they call Wine 
Oneharadesehoengtseragherie, as much as to 
say, a Liquor made of the Juice of the Grape. 
The Words expressing Things lately come to 
their Knowledge are all Compounds: They 
have no Labeals in their Language, nor can 
they pronounce perfectly any Word wherein 
there is a Labeal; and when one endeavours 
to teach them to pronounce these W^ords, 
they tell one, they think it ridiculous that 
they must shut their Lips to speak. Their 
Language abounds with Gutturals and strong 
Aspirations, these make it very sonorous and 
bold ; and their Speeches abound with Meta- 
phors, after the Manner of the Eastern Na- 
tions, as will best appear by the Speeches 
that I have copied. 

As to what religious Notions they have, it 
is difficult to judge of them ; because the In- 
dians, that speak any English, and live near 
us, have learned many Things of us ; and it 
is not easy to distinguish the Notions they 
had originally among themselves, from those 
they have learned of the Christians. It is 
certain they have no Kind of publick Wor- 
ship, and I am told that they have no radical 
Word to express God, but use a compound 
Word, signifying the Preserver, Sustainer, 



THE INTRODUCTION". 

or Master of the Universe ; neither could I 
ever learn what Sentiments they have of a 
future Existence. Their funeral Rites seem 
to be formed upon a Notion of some Kind of 
Existence after Death : They make a large 
round Hole, in which the Body can be placed 
upright, or upon its Haunches, which after 
the Body is placed in it, is covered with Tim- 
ber, to support the Earth which they lay 
over, and thereby keep the Body free from 
being pressed ; they then raise the Earth in 
a round Hill over it. They always dress the 
Corps in all its Finery, and put Wampum and 
other Things into the Grave with it ; and the 
Relations suffer not Grass or any Weed 
to grow on the Grave, and frequently visit 
it with Lamentations : But whether these 
Things be done only as Marks of Respect to 
the Deceased, or from a Notion of some Kind 
of Existence after Death, must be left to the 
Judgment of the Reader. 

They are very superstitious in observing 
Omens and Dreams; I have observed them 
shew a superstitious Awe of the Owl, and be 
highly displeased with some that mimicked 
the Cry of that Bird in the Night. An Offi- 
cer of the regular Troops has informed me 
also, that while he had the Command of the 
Garrison at Oswego, a Boy of one of the far 
Westward Nations died there ; the Parents 
made a regular Pile of split Wood, laid the 
XXX vii 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

Corps upon it, and burnt it ; while the Pile 
was burning, they stood gravely looking on, 
without any Lamentation, but when it was 
burnt down, they gathered up the Bones 
with many Tears, put them into a Box, and 
carried them away with them ; and this In- 
clination, which all ignorant People have to 
Superstition and amusing Ceremonies, gives 
the Popish Priests a great Advantage in rec- 
ommending their Religion, beyond what the 
Regularity of the Protestant Doctrine allows 
of. 

Queen Amie sent over a Missionary to re- 
side among the Mohawks, and allowed him a 
sufficient Subsistence from the privy Purse ; 
she sent Furniture for a Chapel, and a val- 
uable set of Plate for the Communion Table ; 
and (if I am not mistaken) the like Purniture 
and Plate for each of the other Nations, 
though that of the Mohawks was only ap- 
plied to the Use designed. The common 
Prayer, or at least a considerable Part of it, 
was translated also into their Language and 
printed; some other Pieces were likewise 
translated for the Minister's Use, viz. : An 
Exposition of the Creed, Decalogue, Lord's 
Prayer, and Church Catechism, and a Dis- 
course on the Sacraments. But as that Min- 
ister was never able to attain any tolerable 
Knowledge of their Language, and was nat- 
urally a heavy Man, he had but small Suc- 
xxxviii 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

cess; and his Allowance failing, by the 
Queen's Death, he left them. These Nations 
had no Teacher, from that Time, till within 
these few Years, that a young Gentleman, 
out of pious Zeal, Avent voluntarily among 
the Mohawks. He was at first intirely igno- 
rant of their Language, and had no Interpre- 
ter, except one of the Indians, who under- 
stood a little English, and had, in the late 
Missionary's Time, learn' d to read and write 
in his own Language. He learned from him 
how to pronounce the Words in the Transla- 
tions, which had been made for the last Mis- 
sionary's Use. He set up a School, to teach 
their Children to read and write their own 
Language; and they made surprizing Profi- 
ciency, considering their Master did not un- 
derstand their Language. I happened to be 
in tlie Mohawk Country, and saw several of 
their Performances ; I was present at their 
AVorship, where they went through some 
Part of the Common Prayer with great De- 
cency. I was likewise present, several 
Times, at their private Devotions, which 
some of them performed duly. Morning and 
Evening. I had also many Opportunities of 
observing the great Regard they had for this 
young Man ; so far, that the Fear of his leav- 
ing them made the greatest Restraint on 
them, with which he threatened them, after 
they had been guilty of any Offence. Soon 
xxxix 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

after that Time, this Gentleman went to 
England, received Orders, and was sent by 
the Society, Missionary to Albany, with Lib- 
erty to spend some Part of his Time among 
the Mohawks. 

I had lately a Letter from him, dated the 
seventh of December, 1641, in which he 
writes as follows : " Drunkenness was so com- 
mon among them, that I doubt, whether there 
was one grown Person of either Sex free from 
it ; seldom a Day passed, without some, and 
very often forty or fifty being drunk at a 
Time. But I found they were very fond of 
keeping me among them, and afraid I should 
leave them, which I made Use of to good 
Purpose; daily threatning them with my 
Departure, in Case they did not forsake that 
Vice, and frequently requiring a particular 
Promise from them singly ; by which Means 
(through God's Blessing) there was a gradual 
Eeformation; and I know not that I have 
seen above ten or twelve Persons drunk 
among them this Summer. The Women are 
almost all entirely reformed, and the Men 
very much. They have intirely left off Di- 
vorces, and are legally married. They are 
very constant and devout at church and Fam- 
ily Devotions. They have not been known to 
exercise Cruelty to Prisoners, and have, in a 
great Measure, left off going a fighting, which 
I find the most difficult, of all Things, to dis- 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

suade them from. They seem also persuaded 
of the Truths of Christianity The greatest 
Inconveniency I labour under, is the Want 
of an Interpreter, which could I obtain, for 
two or three Years, I should hope to be toler- 
ably Master of their Language, and be able 
to render it easier to my Successor." 

This Gentleman's uncommon Zeal deserves, 
I think, this publick Testimony, that it may 
be a Means of his receiving such Encourage- 
ment, as may enable him to pursue the pious 
Purposes he has in View. 

The Mohawks, were they civilized, may be 
useful to us many AVays, and, on many Occa- 
sions, more than any of our own People can 
be ; and this well deserves to be considered. 

There is one Custom their Men constantly 
observe, which I must not forget to mention ; 
That if they be sent with any Message, 
though it demand the greatest Dispatch, or 
though they bring Intelligence of any immi- 
nent Danger, they never tell it at their first 
Approach ; but sit down for a Minute or two, 
at least, in Silence, to recollect themselves, 
before they speak, that they may not shew 
any Degree of Fear or Surprize, by an inde- 
cent Expression. Every sudden Eepartee, 
in a publick Treaty, leaves with them an 
Impression of a light inconsiderate Mind; 
but, in private Conversation, they use, and 
are delighted with brisk witty Answers, as 
xli 



THE INTRODUCTION. 

we can be. By this they shew the great Dif- 
ference they place between the Conversations 
of Man and Man, and of Nation and Nation ; 
and in this, and a thousand other Things, 
might well be an Example to the European 
Nations. 



xlii 



THE 

CONTENTS. 

Editor's Introduction, . . . page ix 

The Introduction, being a short View of the 
Form of Government of the Five Nations, 
and of their Laws and Customs, . xv 



PART L CHAP. I. 

Of the Wars of the Five Nations, with the 
Adirondacks and Quatoghies, . . 1 

CHAP. II. 

The Wars and Treaties of Peace of the In- 
dians of the Five Nations with the French, 
from 1665 to 1683, and their Affairs with 
New York in that time, . . .15 

CHAP. III. 

Of the Transactions of the Indians of the 
Five Nations with the neighbouring Eng- 
lish Colonies, 22 

CHAP. IV. 

Mons. Pe la Barres Expedition, and some re- 
markable Transactions in 1684, . 54 
xliii 



THE CONTENTS. 



CHAP. V. 



The English attempt to trade in the Lakes, 
and the French attack the Senekas, . 72 

CHAP. VI. 

Colonel Dongan's Advice to the Indians. 
Adario's Enterprize, and Montreal sacked 
by the Five Nations, . . .84 

P A E T II. C H A P. I. 

The State of Affairs in New-York and Canada 
at the Time of the Revolution in Great- 
Britain 107 



CHAP. II. 

A Treaty between the Agents of Massachu- 
sets-Bay, New-Plymouth, and Connecticut, 
and the Sachems of the Five Nations at Al- 
bany, in the Year 1689, . . .119 

CHAP. III. 

An Account of a general Council of the Five 
Nations at Onondaga, to consider of the 
Count De Frontenac's Message, . 127 

CHAP. IV. 

The French surprize Schenectady. The Mo- 
hawks Speech of Condolance on that Occa- 
sion, 138 

xiiv 



THE CONTENTS. 

CHAP. V. 

The Five Nations continue the War with the 
French. The Mohawks encline to Peace. 
Their Conferences with the Governor of 
New- York, . . . . .149 

CHAP. VI. 

The English attack Montreal by Land, in 
Conjunction with the Indians, and Quebeck 
by Sea, 157 

CHAP. VII. 

The French, and the Five Nations, continue 
the War all Winter with various Success. 
The French burn a Captain of the Five Na- 
tions alive, ..... 164 

CHAP. VIII. 

The Five Nations treat with Captain Ingolds- 
by, 173 

CHAP. IX. 

The French surprize, and take three Mohawk 
Castles, . . . . . .179 

CHAP. X. 

The Treaties and Negotiations the Five Na- 
tions had with the English and French in 
the Years 1693, and 1694, . . 191 



THE CONTENTS. 

CHAP. XL 

The War continued. The French repossess 
themselves of Cadarackui Fort; and find 
means to break off the Treaty between the 
Five Nations and Dionondadies, . 232 

CHAP. XII. 

The Count De Frontenac attacks Onondaga in 
Person with the whole Force of Canada. 
The Five Nations continue the War with 
the French, and make Peace with the Dio- 
nondadies, ..... 242 

CHAP. XIII. 

The Conduct which the English and French 
observed in regard to the Five Nations, im- 
mediately after the Peace of Ryswick, 253 



2dvi 



VOCABULARY 

OF 

Some Words and Names used by the French 
Authors, who treat of the Indian Affairs, 
ivhich are different from the Names of the 
same Peo'ple or Places, used or understood 
by the English, and may therefore be useful 
to those %vho intend to read the French Ac- 
counts, or compare them with the Accounts 
now publislied. 



Names used by 
the French. 

A Benaguies. 



Algoukins. 
Amihouis. 



Aniez. 



The same are called by the 
English, or by the Five 
Nations. 



yj E 



enagungas, or New 
England Indians, and 

are sometimes called the 

Eastern Indians. 
Adirondacks. 
Dionondadies, or Tuinonda- 

deks, a Branch or Tribe 

of the Quatoghies. 
Mohawks, called likewise 

Maquas. 

xlvii 



A VOCABULARY, &c. 



Names used by 


The same are called hij the 


the French. 


English, or by the Five 




Nations. 


Bay des Puans. 


Enitajiche. 


Cliigagou. 


Caneraghik. 


Corlaer, or 


Schenectady. But the Five 


Coiiard. 


Nations commonly call 




the Governor of New- 




York by this Name, and 




often the People of the 




Province of New -York in 




general. 


Detroit. 


Teuchsagrondie. 


Hurons 


Quatoghie. 


Hinois. 


Chictaghicks. 


Iroquois. 


The Five Nations. 


Lac Huron. 


Caniatare, or Quatoghe 




lake. 


Loups. 


Scahkook Indians. 


Manhattan. 


New- York City. 


Mascoutecs. 


Odislastagheks. 


Mourigan. 


Mahikander, or River In- 




dians, living on Hudson's 




River, below Albany. 


Miamies. 


Twightwies. 


Missilimakinak. 


Teiodondoraghie. 


Missisakies. 


Achsisaghecks. 


Oneyouts. 


Oneydoes. 


Ontario lac. 


Cadarackui Lake. 


Orange. 


Albany. 


Outagamies. 


Quacksies, and Scunksiks. 



A VOCABULARY, &c. 



Names used hy 
the French. 

Outawas. 

Renarcls. 

Sauiteurs. 

Sliaouonons. 

Tateras. 

Terre rouge. 

Tongorias. 

Tsonoutouans. 



The same are called by the 
English, or hy the Five 
Nations. 

Utawawas, or Dewagunhas. 

Qiiaksies. 

Estiaghicks. 

Satanas. 

Toderiks. 

Scunksik. 

Erighecks. 

Senekas. 



xlix 



THE 

PREFACE 

TO THE 

First Part 

THOUG-H every one that is in the least 
acquainted with the Affairs of North- 
America, knows of what Consequence the In- 
dians, commonly known to the People of New- 
York by the Name of the Five Nations, are, 
both in Peace and War ; I know of no Accounts 
of them, published in English, but what are 
very imperfect, and indeed meer Translations 
of French Authors, who themselves know lit- 
tle of the Truth. This seems to throw some 
Reflections on the Inhabitants of our Pro- 
vmce, as if we wanted Curiosity to enquire 
into our own Affairs, and were willing to rest 
satisfied with the Accounts the French give 
us of our own Indians, notwithstanding that 
the French in Canada are always in a differ- 
ent Interest, and sometimes in open Hostility 
with us. This Consideration, I hope, will 
justify my attempting to write an History of 
U 



THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART. 

the Five Nations at this time; and having 
had the Perusal of the Minutes of the Coni- 
juissioners for Indian Affairs, I have been 
enabled to collect many Materials for this 
Histor}^, which are not to be found anywhere 
else ; and cannot but think, that a History of 
this Kind will be of great Use to all the Brit- 
ish Colonies in North-America, since it may 
enable them to learn Experience at the Ex- 
pence of others: And if I can contribute any 
Thing to so good a Purpose, I shall not think 
my Labour lost. 

It will be necessary for me here to say 
something in Excuse of two Things in the 
following Performance, which, I am afraid, 
will naturally be found Fault with in it. 
The first is, the filling up so great Part of 
the Work with the Adventures of small Par- 
ties, and sometimes with those of one single 
Man: And the second is, the inserting so 
many Speeches at length. 

As to the first, the History of Indians 
would be very lame, without an Account of 
these private Adventures ; for their warlike 
Expeditions are almost always carried on by 
surprising each other, and their whole Art 
of War consists in managing small Parties. 
The whole Country being one continued For- 
est, gives great Advantages to these skulking 
Parties, and has obliged the Christians to 
imitate the Indians in this Method of making 
lii 



THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART. 

War among them. And some would, doubt- 
less, be desirous to know the Manners and 
Customs of the Indians, in their 2>i^ibliek 
Treaties especially, who could not be satis- 
fied without taking Notice of several minute 
Circumstances, and Things otherwise of no 
Consequence. We are fond of searching into 
remote Anti'quity, to know the jVIanners of 
our earliest Progenitors ; and, if I am not 
mistaken, the Indians are living Images of 
them. 

My Design therefore in the second was, 
that thereby the Genius of the Indians might 
appear. An Historian may paint Mens Ac- 
tions in lively Colours, or in faint Spaces, as 
he likes best, and in both Cases preserve a 
perfect Likeness; but it will be a difficult 
Task to shew the Wit, Judgment, Art, Sim- 
plicity, and Ignorance of the several Parties, 
managing a Treaty, in other Words than 
their own. As to my Part, I thought my- 
self incapable of doing it, without depriving 
the judicious Observer of the Opportunity 
of discoverhig much of the Indian Genius, 
by my contracting or paraphrasing their Ha- 
rangues, and without committing often gross 
Mistakes. For, on these Occasions, a skilful 
Manager often talks confusedly, and ob- 
scurely, with Design ; which if an Historian 
should endeavour to amend, the Reader 
would receive the History in a false Light. 
liii 



THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART. 

The Reader will find a great Difference be- 
tween some of the Speeches here given of 
those made at Albany, and those taken from 
the French Authors. Ours are genuine and 
truly related, as delivered by the sworn In- 
terpreters, of whom Truth only is required; 
a rough Stile, with Truth, is preferable to 
Eloquence without it : This may be said in 
Justification of the Indian Expression, 
though I must own, that I susj^ect our Inter- 
preters may not have done Justice to the In- 
dian Eloquence, For the Indians having but 
few Words, and few complex Ideas, use 
many Metaphors in their Discourse, which 
interpreted by an unskilful Tongue, may ap- 
pear mean, and strike our Imagination faintly ; 
but under the Pen of a skilful Representer, 
might strongly move our Passions by their 
lively Images. I have heard an old Indian 
Sachem speak with much Vivacity and Elo- 
cution, so that the Speaker pleased and 
moved the Auditors with the Manner of de- 
livering his Discourse ; which however, as it 
afterwards came from the Interpreter, disap- 
pointed us in our Expectations. After the 
Speaker had employed a considerable Time 
in haranguing with much Elocution, the In- 
terpreter often explained the whole by one 
single Sentence. I believe the Speaker, in 
that Time, embellished and adorned his Fig- 
ures, that they might have their full Force 
liv 



THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART. 

on the Imagination, while the Interpreter 
contented himself with the Sense, in as few 
Words as it could be expressed. 

He that first Avrites the History of Things, 
which are not generally known, ought to 
avoid, as much as possible, to make the Evi- 
dence of tlio Truth de[)end intirely on his 
own Veracity and Judgment; and for this 
Keason I liave related several Transactions in 
the Words of the Registers, when this is once 
done, he that shall write afterwards, need not 
act with so much Caution. 

The History of these Indians, I promise 
myself, will give an agreeable Amusement to 
many ; almost every one will find something 
in it suited to his own Palate ; but every Line 
will not please every Man ; on the contrary, 
one will naturally approve what another con- 
demns, as one desires to know what another 
thinks not worth the Trouble of reading ; for 
which Reason, I think, it is better to run the 
Risque of being sonu'times tedious to certain 
Readers, than to omit any Thing that may 
be useful to the World. 

I have sometimes thought, that Histories 
wrote with all the Delicacy of a fine Ro- 
mance, are like French Dishes, more agree- 
able to the Palate than the Stomach and less 
wholesome than more common and coarser 
Diet. 

An Historian's Views must be curious and 



THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART. 

extensive, and the History of different Peo- 
ple and different Ages requires different 
Rules, and often different Abilities to write 
it; I hope therefore the Reader will, from 
these Considerations, receive this first At- 
tempt of this kind, with more than usual 
Allowances. 

The Inhabitants of New- York have been 
much more concerned in the Transactions, 
which followed the Year 1688, than in those 
which preceded it. And as it requires un- 
common Courage and Resolution to engage 
willingly in the Wars against a cruel and 
barbarous Enemy, I should be sorry to forget 
any that might deserve to be remembered by 
their Country, with Gratitude on that Occa- 
sion. 



Ivi 



THE 

HISTORY 

OF THE 

Five INDIAN Nations, 

DEPENDING 

On the Province oi NEW-TORK. 



PART I. 

The History of the Five Nations, from, the 
Time the Clirlstians first knew any Thing 
of them, to that of the Revolution in Great- 
Britain. 



CHAP. I. 

Of the Wars of the Five Nations with the 
Adirondacks and Quntoghies. 

THE first Settlers of New-York having 
been little curious in inquiring into 
the Indian Affairs, further than what related 
to Trade ; or, at least, having neglected to 
transmit their Discoveries to Posterity, it is 
much more difficult to give a just History of 
Vol. I.— 1 1 



THE HI8T0RY OF THE 

these Nations before, than since the Timo of 
their being under the Crown of England. 
What we can learn of Certainty, however, is 
this. The French settled at Canada in the 
Year 1603, six Years before the Dutch pos- 
sessed themselves of New-Netherlands, now 
called New-York, and found the Five Nations 
at War with the Adirondacks, which, they tell 
us, Avas occasioned in the following Manner. 
The Adirondacks formerly lived three-hun- 
dred ]\Iiles above Trois Rivieres, where now 
the Utawawas are situated ; at that Time they 
employed themselves wholly in Hunting, and 
the Five Nations made planting of Corn their 
Business. By this Means they became use- 
ful to each other, by exchanging Corn for 
Venison. The Adirondacks, however, valued 
themselves, as delighting in a more manly 
Employment, and despised the Five Nations, 
in following Business, which they thought 
only fit for Women. But it once happened, 
that the Game failed the Adirondacks, which 
made them desire some of the young Men of 
the Five Nations to assist them in Hunting. 
These young Men soon became much more 
expert in Hunting, and able to endure Fa- 
tigues, than the Adirondacks expected or de- 
sired ; in short, they became jealous of them, 
and, one Night, murdered all the young Men 
they had with them. The Five Nations com- 
plained to the Chiefs of the Adirondacks, of 
2 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the Inhumanity of this Action ; but they con- 
tented themselves with blaming the Murder- 
ers, and ordered them to make some small 
Presents * to the Eelations of the murdered 
Persons, without being apprehensive of the 
Eesentment of the Five Nations; for they 
looked upon them, as Men not capable of 
taking any great Revenge. 

This however provoked the Five Nations 
to that Degree, that they soon resolved, by 
some Means, to be revenged ; and the Adi- 
rondacks being informed of their Designs, 
thought to prevent them, by reducing them 
with Force to their Obedience. 

The Five Nations then lived near where 
Mont Real now stands ; they defended them- 
selves at first but faintly against the vigorous 
Attacks of the Adirondacks, and were forced 
to leave their own Country, and fly to the 
Banks of the Lakes where they live now. As 
they were hitherto Losers by the War, it 
obliged them to apply themselves to the Ex- 
ercise of Arms, in which they became daily 
more and more expert. Their Sachems, in 
order to raise their People's Spirits, turned 
them against the Satanas,t a less warlike 

*It is still a Custom among the Indians, to ex- 
piate Murder by Presents to the Relations of the 
Person killed. 

f They are called Shaouonons, by the French, and 
live now on one of the Banks of the ]\Iisissipi. 

a 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Nation, who then lived on the Banks of the 
Lakes ; for they found it was difficult to re- 
move the Dread their People had of the 
Valour of the Adirondacks. The Five Na- 
tions soon subdued the Satanas, and drove 
them out of their Country; and their Peo- 
ple's Courage being thus elevated, they, from 
this Time, not only defended themselves 
bravely against the whole Force of the Adi- 
rondacks, but often carried the War into the 
Heart of the Adirondack's Country, and, at 
last, forced them to leave it, and to fly into 
that Part of the Country, where Quebeck is 
now built. 

There are more Instances than one in His- 
tory, of poor dispirited Nations, that by some 
signal Affront or Abuse have had their 
Spirits so raised, that they have not only 
performed notable Things on a sudden, but, 
if they happened, at the same Time, to be 
led and governed by wise Men, have so far 
kept up, and improved that Spirit, that they 
have become, in a Manner, a different People. 
Let us examine History, and we shall find, 
that the different Figure every Country has 
made in the World, has been ever principally 
owing to the Principles which were inculcated 
into, and carefully cultivated in the People. 
In this chiefly consists the Art of making a 
Nation glorious, or the Crime of debasing 
them into Servitude or Slavery. It was from 
4 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the Notions of Liberty, Honour, and Glory, 
and such wise and generous Principles, which 
the ineanest Citizen among the old R-omans 
entertained, that they became so great and 
powerful, and a Terror to all Nations; as 
the sordid, timorous, cunning Artifices, and 
the Love of Wealth and sensual Pleasures, 
cultiv^ated among the present Romans, has 
debased them now into the meanest and least 
feared Nation on the Earth. The History of 
the Five Nations will readily shew, how far 
the ancient Roman Principles have been cul- 
tivated among them. 

Soon after this Change of the People of 
these Nations, the French arrived at Canada, 
and settled at Quebeck; and they thinking it 
adviseable to gain the Esteem and Friendship 
of the Adirondacks, in whose Country they 
settled. Monsieur Champlain, the first Gov- 
ernor of Canada, joined the Adirondacks in 
an Expedition against the Five Nations. 
They met a Party of two-hundred Men of the 
Five Nations in Corlar's Lake, which the 
French, on this Occasion called by Monsieur 
Champlain' s Name, and both Sides went 
ashore to prepare for Battle, which proved to 
the Disadvantage of the Five Nations. The 
French, in short, kept themselves undiscov- 
er'd, till the Moment they began to join Bat- 
tle; and their Fire-arms surprised the Five 
Nations so much, that they were immediately 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

put into Confusion; for, before that Time, 
they had never seen such Weapons. The 
Trade with the French, soon after this, drew 
most of the neighbouring Nations to Quebeck, 
and they all joined in the War against the 
Five Nations, 

The Adirondacks having their Numbers 
thus increased, and their Fire-arms giving 
them new Confidence, proposed nothing less 
to themselves, than the intire Destruction of 
the Five Nations. Upon this, their young 
Warriors became fierce and insolent, and 
would not be kept under any Discipline 
or Subjection to their Captains; but, upon 
all Occasions, rashly attacked the Enemy, 
who were obliged to keep themselves upon 
the defensive; and to make up what they 
wanted in Force, by Stratagems, and a skil- 
ful Management of the War. The young 
Men of the Five Nations soon perceived 
the Advantages they gained by this Con- 
duct, and every Day grew more submissive 
to their Captains, and diligent in executing 
any Enterprize. 

The Five Nations sent out small Parties 
only, who meeting with great Numbers of the 
Adirondacks, retired before them with seem- 
ing Terror, while the Adirondacks pusued 
them with Fury, and without Thought, till 
they were cunningly drawn into Ambuscades, 
where most of their Men were killed or taken 
6 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Prisoners, with little or no Loss to the Five 
Nations. 

The Adirondacks, by this Means, wasted 
away, and their boldest Soldiers were almost 
intirely destroy' d, while the Number of the 
Five Nations were increased, by the Addition 
of the Prisoners, which they took from the 
Satanas. 

The wisest and best Soldiers of the Adi- 
rondacks, when it was too late, now at length 
discovered, that they must learn the Art of 
War from those Enemies that they at first 
despised ; and now five of their Captains en- 
deavoured to perform by themselves singly, 
with Art and by Stratagem, what they could 
not do by Force at the Head of their Armies ; 
they had however no longer any Hopes of 
conquering, their Thoughts were only set on 
Eevenge. 

It is not improper to observe here, once 
for all, that in writing the History of In- 
dians, it is often necessary to give an Ac- 
count of the Enterprizes of single Persons, 
otherwise the Indian Genius can never be 
known, or their Manner of making War un- 
derstood. An Indian named Piskaret was at 
this Time one of the Captains of greatest 
Fame among the Adirondacks : This bold 
Man, with four other Captains, set out for 
Trois-Rivieres in one Canoe, each of them 
being provided with three Musquets, which 
7 



THE HISTORY OP THE 

they loaded with two Bullets apiece, joined 
with a small Chain ten Inches long ; they met 
with five Canoes in Sorel River, each having 
ten Men of the Five Nations on Board. Pis- 
karet and his Captains, as soon as those of 
the Five Nations drew near, pretended to 
give themselves up for lost, and sung their 
Death Song,* then suddenly fired upon the 
Canoes, which they repeated with the Arms 
that lay ready loaded, and tore those Birch 
Vessels betwixt Wind and Water. The Men 
of the Five Nations were so surprized, that 
they tumbled out of their Canoes, and gave 
Piskaret and his Companions the Opportunity 
of knocking as many of them on the Head 
as they pleased, and saving the others, to 
feed their Revenge, which they did, by burn- 
ing them alive with the most cruel Torments. 
This however was so far from glutting Piska- 
ret' s Revenge, that it seemed rather to give a 
keener Edge to it ; for he soon after under- 
took another Enterprize, in which none of his 
Countrymen durst accompany him : He was 
well acquainted with the Country of the Five 
Nations, and set out about the Time the Snow 
began to melt, with the Precaution of putting 
the hinder Part of his Snow Shoes forward, 

*It is a Custom among the ludian Prisoners of 
War, when led to Death, to sing an Account of their 
own Exploits; and this they are hardy enough to 
continue even in the midst of Tortures. 
8 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

that if any should happen upon his Foot- 
steps, they might think he was gone the con- 
trary Way; and, for further Security, Avent 
along the Ridges and high Grounds, where 
the Snow was melted, that his Track might 
be often lost ; when he came near one of the 
Villages of the Five Nations, he hid himself 
till Night, and then entered a Cabin, while 
every F>ody was fast asleep, murdered the 
whole Family, and carried their Scalps into 
his lurking Place. The next day the People 
of the Village searched for the Murderer in 
vain. The following Night he murdered all 
he found in another Cabin. The Inhabitants 
next Day searched likewise in vain for the 
Murderer; but the third Night a Watch was 
kept in every House. Piskaret in the Night 
bundled up the Scalps he had taken the two 
former Nights, to carry, as the Proof of his 
Victory, and then stole privately from House 
to House, till at last he found an Indian nod- 
ding, who was upon the Watch in one of the 
Houses; he knockt this Man on the Head; 
but as this alarmed the rest, he was forced 
immediately to fly. He was however under 
no great Concern from the Pursuit, being 
more swift of Foot than any Indian then liv- 
ing. He let his Pursuers come near him 
from Time to Time, and then would dart 
from them. This he did with Design to tire 
them out with the Hopes of overtaking Him. 
9 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

As it began to grow dark, he hid himself, and 
his Pursuers stop'd to rest. They not being 
apprehensive of any Danger from a single 
Man, soon fell asleep, and the bold Piskaret 
observing this, knock' d them all on the 
Head, and carried away their Scalps with the 
rest. Such Stories as these are told among 
the Indians, as extraordinary Instances of the 
Courage and Conduct of their Captains. The 
Indians will often travel thus three or four 
Hundred Miles singly, or two or three in 
Company, and lurk about their Enemy's Bor- 
ders for several Weeks, in Hopes to revenge 
the Death of a near Relation or dear Friend. 
Indeed they give themselves so very much 
up to Revenge, that this Passion seems to 
gnaw their Souls, and gives them no Rest 
till they satisfy it. It is this Delight in Re- 
venge, that makes all barbarous Nations 
cruel ; and the curbing such Passions is one 
of the happy Effects of being civilized. 

The Five Nations are so much delighted 
with Stratagems in War, that no Superiority 
of their Forces ever make them neglect them. 
They amused the Adirondacks and their Al- 
lies the Quatoghies (called by the French 
Hurons) by sending to the French, and de- 
siring Peace. The French desired them to 
receive some Priests among them, in Hopes 
that those prudent Fathers would, by some 
Art, reconcile them to their Interest, and en- 
10 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

gage their Affections. The Five Nations 
readily accepted the Offer, and some Jesuits 
went along with them : But after they had 
the Jesuits in their Power, they used them 
only as Hostages, and thereby obliged the 
French to stand neuter, while they prepared 
to attack the Adirondacks and Quatoghies, 
and they defeated the Quatoghies in a dread- 
ful Battle fought within two Leagues of Que- 
beck. 

The French own, That if the Five Nations 
had known their Weakness at that Time, they 
might have easily destroyed the whole Colony. 

This Defeat, in Sight of the French Settle- 
ments, struck Terror into all their Allies, who 
were at that Time very numerous, because of 
the Trade with the French, which furnished 
them with many the most useful Convenien- 
cies ; for before that Time the Indians had 
no Iron Tool among them. 

The Nipeceriniens, who then lived on the 
Banks of St. Laurence Eiver, fled upon this 
to the Northward, believing that the extreme 
Coldness of the Climate, and a barren Soil, 
would be the securest Defence against the 
Ambition of the Five Nations. The Re- 
mainder of the Quatoghies fled with the Uta- 
wawas Southwestward ; and for the greater 
Security, settled in an Island, which being 
further than the Name of the Five Nations 
had then reached, they trusted to the Dis- 
11 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

tance of tlie Place, and the Advantage of its 
Situation. 

Their last Expedition having succeeded so 
well, the Five Nations gave out, that they 
intended next AVinter to visit Yonnendio, (the 
Name they give to the Governor of Canada;) 
these Visits are always made with much 
Shew. Under this Pretence they gathered 
together 1000 or 1200 Men. Their out Scouts 
met with Piskaret near Niccolet River, and 
still pretending a friendly Visit to the Gov- 
ernor of Canada, as their only Design, he told 
them, that the Adirondacks were divided into 
two Bodies, one of which hunted on the 
North Side of St. Laurence River at Wab- 
make, three Leagues above Trois Rivieres, 
and the other at Nicolet. As soon as they 
had gained this Information, they killed him, 
and returned with his Head to the Army. 
The Five Nations divided likewise into two 
Bodies ; they surprized the Adirondacks in 
both Places, and in both cut them in pieces. 

Thus the most warlike and polite Nation 
of all the Indians in North America, was al- 
most intirely destroyed by a People they at 
first despised, and by a War which their 
Pride and Injustice brought upon them; and 
we here see, that all the Advantages of 
Numbers, Courage and Weapons, is not equal 
to good discipline in an Army. 

A very few Adirondacks only now remain 
12 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

in some Villages near Quebeck, who still 
waste away and deca}", by their drinking 
strong Waters, the' when the French first 
settled at Quebeck, 1500 fighting Men of them 
lived between that Place and Sillerie, which 
are only a league distant, besides those that 
lived at Saquenay, Trois Rivieres, and some 
other Places. And since this decisive Battle, 
the Adirondacks have never been considered as 
of any Consequence, either in Peace or War. 
The Quatoghies and Atawawas now soon 
began to be in Want of the European Com- 
modities, which had made them considerable 
among their new Friends. In order there- 
fore to supply themselves anew, they re- 
turned to Trade at Quebeck ; and by this 
Means the Place of their Retreat was discov- 
ered to the Five Nations; and they not hav- 
ing their Revenge satiated, while the Quatog- 
hies had a Being, soon convinced them, that 
no Extent of Country could set bounds to 
that Passion, when it rages in the Hearts of 
the Five Nations, for they soon after attack'd 
them in their new Settlement. The Quatog- 
hies had the good Fortune to discover the 
Five Nations Time enough to make their Es- 
cape, and fled to the Putewatemies, who lived 
a Day's Journey further, where they, and all 
the Neighbouring Nations, secured them- 
selves in a large Fort. The Five Nations fol- 
lowed, but, being in Want of Provision, they 
13 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

could not attempt a Siege, and therefore pro- 
posed a Treaty with the Putewatemies, which 
was accepted. The Putewatemies acknowl- 
edged the Five Nations as Masters of all the 
Nations round them, applauded their Valour, 
and promised them their Friendshi}), and to 
supply them with Provisions : they would not 
however trust themselves out of their Fort, 
but sent out a Supply; and even this they 
did, only with Design to do that by Treach- 
ery, which they durst not attemjjt by Force ; 
for the Provisions were poisoned. The 
Treachery was discovered however to the 
Five Nations, by an old Qiiatoghie, who had 
a Son Prisoner among them ; his Affection 
for his Son overcoming even his Hatred to 
his Country's Enemies. This Treachery 
highly enraged the Five Nations against the 
Putewatemies, and the neighbouring People ; 
but Famine obliging them to retire at this 
Time, they divided their Armies into Parties, 
the better to provide for their Subsistence, by 
Hunting ; one of these Parties in their Chace 
fell in with a Village of the Chicktaghicks 
(called by the French Hinois) and surj)rized 
the old Men, Women and Children, when the 
young Men were abroad hunting; but the 
young Men, upon their Return, gathering 
together all the rest of the Villages, pursued 
this Party of the Five Nations, and recovered 
the Prisoners. 

14 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

This was the first Time that the Five Na- 
tious had been seen in those Parts, but tlieir 
Name was become so terrible, that the Cliig- 
taghcicks, notwithstanding this Advantage, 
left their Country, and fled to the Nations 
that lived westward, till the General Peace 
was settled by the French, and not till on 
that Occasion returned to their own Country. 



CHAP. 11. 

The Wars and TreMties of Peace of the 
Indians of the Five Nations with the 
French, from 1665 to 1683, and their Af- 
fairs tcith Neiv- York in that Time. 

IN June 1665 Monsieur De Trasi appointed 
Vice-Koy of America by the French 
King, arrived at Quebeck, after he had vis- 
ited the French Islands in the West Indies, 
and brought with him four Companies of 
Foot; and in September of the same Year, 
Mr. Coursel arrived Governor General of 
Canada; he brought with him a Eegiment 
and several Families, with all Things neces- 
sary for establishing of a Colony. Their 
Force being now thus considerably augmented, 
the French Governor resolved to chastise the 
Insolence of the Five Nations; and for that 
Purpose, in the Winter, sent out a Party 
19 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

against the Mohawks, but these by the Cold, 
and their not knowing the Use of Snow 
Shoes, suffered very much, without doing any 
Thing against the Enemy. 

This Party however fell in with Skenec- 
tady,* a small Town which Corlear (a con- 
siderable Man among the Dutch) had then 
newly settled. When they appeared near 
Skenectady, they were almost dead with Cold 
and Hunger; and the Indians, who were 
then in that Village, had intirely destroyed 
them, if Corlear, (in Compassion to his fellow 
Christians) had not contriv'd their Escape. 
He had a mighty Influence over the Indians ; 
and it is from him, and in Remembrance of 
his Merit, that all Governors of Kew-York 
are called Corlear by the Indians to this Day, 
tho' he himself was never Governor. He 
persuaded the Indians, that this was a small 
Party of the French Army come to amuse 
them, that the great Body was gone directly 
towards their Castles, and that it was neces- 
sary for them immediately to go in Defence 
of their Wives and Children. This they be- 
lieved, and readily obeyed; and as soon as 
the Indians were gone, he sent to the French, 
and sup23lied them with Provisions and other 
Necessaries to carry them back. The French 

*The French call this Town Corlear, from the 
Person's Name who first settled there. It is situate 
on the Mohawks River sixteen Miles from Albany. 
16 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Governor, in Order to reward so signal a Ser- 
vice, invited Corlear to Canada; but as lie 
went through the great Lake, which lies to 
the Northward of Albany, his Canoe was 
overset, and he was drowned ; and from this 
Accident that Lake has ever since been called 
Corlear' s Lake, by the People of New- York. 
There is a Rock in this Lake, on which the 
Waves dash and fly up to a great Height; 
when the Wind blows hard, the Indians be- 
lieve, that an old Indian lives under this 
Rock, who has the Power of the Winds ; and 
therefore, as they pass it in their Voyages 
over, they always throw a Pipe, or some other 
small Present to this old Indian, and pray a 
favourable Wind. The English that pass 
with them sometimes laugh at them, but they 
are sure to be told of Corlear' s Death. Your 
great Countryman Corlear (say they) as he 
passed by this Rock, jested at our Fathers 
making Presents to this Old Indian, and in 
Derision turned up his Backside, but this 
Affront cost him his Life. 

In the following S^^ring the Vice-Roy and 
the Governor of Canada, with twenty eight 
Companies of Foot, and all the Militia of the 
Colony, marched into the Country of the 
Mohawks, with a Design to destroy this Na- 
tion, which by their Wars not only prevented 
their Commerce with the western Indians, 
but likewise often put their Colony in Danger. 

Vol. I. -8 17 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

It certainly was a bold Attempt, to march 
above 700 Miles from Quebeck through vast 
unknown Forests. The Mohawks however, 
on their Approach, Men, Women, and Chil- 
dren, retired into the Woods, and all that the 
French were able to do, was to burn some 
Villages, and to murder some old Sachems 
that (like the old Roman Senators,) chose 
rather to dye than to desert their Houses. 

The French were so conceited before, of 
their Superiority over the Indians in their 
Skill of War, and their Weapons, that they 
thought they could not escape, but the little 
Honour or Advantage they got by this Ex- 
pedition lessened their Vanity, and made 
them desirous of Peace ; and the Five Nations 
remaining fearful of the French fire Arms, it 
was without much Difficulty concluded in the 
Year 1667. 

The Five Nations however being naturally 
very enterprizing and haughty, one of their 
Parties some Time after met with some 
French in their hunting, and quarrelled with 
them. The Indians had the Advantage, they 
killed several of the French, and carried one 
Prisoner into their own Country. Monsieur 
de Coursel sent on this to threaten the Five 
Nations with War, if they did not deliver up 
these Murderers; and the Five Nations, to 
shew their publick Displeasure at this Breach 
of Peace, sent Agariata, the Captain of the 
18 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Company that did the Mischief, with forty 
others, to beg Pardon ; but Monsieur Coursel 
was resolved to make an Example of Aga- 
riata, and ordered him to be hanged in Sight 
of his Countrymen; and the French think 
that this Severity was a great Means of pre- 
serving the Peace till the Year 1683. 

The Dutch, who settled in the New Nether- 
lands, now called New- York, in 1609, en- 
tered into an Alliance with the Five Nations, 
which continued without any P)reach on 
either Side, till the English gained this 
Country. The Dutch gained the Hearts of 
the Five Nations by their kind Usage, and 
were frequently useful to the French, in sav- 
ing those of them that were prisoners from 
the Cruelty of the Indians. 

In 1664, New-York being taken by the 
English, they likewise immediately entered 
into a Friendship with the Five Nations, 
which has continued without the least Breach 
to this Day ; and History, I believe, cannot 
give an Instance of the most Christian or 
most Catholick Kings observing a Treaty so 
strictly, and for so long a Time as these Bar- 
barians, as they are called, have done. 

The English and French (Peace being every 
where settled) now endeavoured to extend 
their Commerce and Alliances among the 
Indian Nations, that live to the westward of 
New-York. The French however, in their 
19 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Measures, discovered always a Design of con- 
quering and commanding ; for with this View 
Mr. de Frontenac, who had succeeded in the 
Government of Canada, in the Year 1072, per- 
suaded the Five Nations to allow him to build 
a Fort on the north Side of Cadarackui Lake, 
under Pretence of a Store for Merchandise, 
and the Security of his Traders, and under the 
same Pretence built several other Forts at 
some other considerable Places far in the 
Country. 

The English and Dutch, on the contrary, 
prosecuted their Measures only with the Arts 
of Peace, by sending Peoj^le among the In- 
dians to gain their Affections, and to persuade 
them to come to Albany to trade ; but the 
War with the Dutch, which happened about 
this Time, prevented even these honest De- 
signs from having the Success they otherwise 
might have had; for in the year 1673, New- 
York being surprised by the Dutch, and re- 
stored the next Year to the English, the Al- 
terations of Government, and of Masters, 
obstructed very much any Measures that could 
have been taken for the publick Good. Their 
Trade was likewise considerably hindered by 
the War which the Five Nations had at that 
Time with the Eiver Indians,* which forced 

*The Indians Hving on the Branches of Hudson's 
River, within or near the English Settlements at that 
Time. 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

many of those Indians to seek Shelter among 
the Utawawas, who fell under the French 
Government at last; however, the English, 
Dutch and French having all made Peace in 
Europe, and the Government of New- York 
likewise having obtained a Peace between the 
Five Nations and Mahikindars or Eiver In- 
dians, both the English and French were at 
full Liberty to prosecute their Designs of ex- 
tending their Commerce among the Indians, 
which both did with very considerable Suc- 
cess and Advantage to the Inhabitants of 
their respective Colonies. 

But this Justice must be done to the 
French, that they far exceeded the English 
in the daring Attempts of some of their In- 
habitants, in traA^elling very far among un- 
known Indians, discovering new Countries, 
and every where spreading the Fame of the 
French Name and Grandeur. The Sieur 
Perot travelled in the Year 1667 as far as the 
Fall St. Mary beyond Missilimakinak, and 
having learned those Indians Language, 
gained them over to his Country's Interest. 

The Courage and Eesolution of many of 
these Adventurers are deservedly recorded 
by the French ; but the English give it an- 
other Turn, and say it is the Barrenness and 
Poverty of Canada that pushes the Men of 
Spirit there, upon Enterprizes, that they 
would not have attempted, if they had lived 
SI 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

in the Province of New- York. The chief 
Reason, in my Opinion, however, of the 
French having so far succeeded beyond the 
English is, that the Indian Affairs are the 
particular Care of the Governor and other 
principal Officers in Canada, who have the 
greatest Knowledge and Authority ; whereas 
those Affairs in New-York are chiefly left to 
the Management of a few Traders with the 
Indians, who have no Care for, or Skill in 
publick Affairs, and only mind their private 
Interest. 



CHAP. III. 

Of the Transactions of the Indians of the 
Five Nations tvith the Neighbouring Eng- 
lish Colonies. 

THE Five Nations being now amply sup- 
plied by the English with Fire-Arms 
and Ammunition, give full Swing to their 
warlike Genius, and soon resolved to revenge 
the Affronts they had at any Time received 
from the Indian Nations that lived at a 
greater Distance from them. The nearest 
Nations, as they were attack' d, commonly 
fled to those that were further off, and the 
Five Nations pursued them. This, together 
with a Desire they had of conquering, or 

2a 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Ambition of making all the Nations round 
them their Tributaries, or to acknowledge the 
Five Nations to be so far their Masters, as to 
be absolutely directed by them in all Affairs 
of Peace and War with their Neighbours, 
made them overrun great Part of North- 
America. They carried their Arms as far 
South as Carolina, to the Northward of New- 
England, and as far West as the Eiver Mis- 
sissipi, over a vast Country, which extends 
twelve hundred Miles in Length, from North 
to South, and about six hundred Miles in 
breadth ; where they intirely destroyed many 
Nations, of whom there are now no Accounts 
remaining among the English. 

These warlike Expeditions often proved 
troublesome to the Colonies of Virginia and 
Maryland; for not only the Indians that were 
Friends to those Colonies became Victims to 
the Fury of the Five Nations, but the Chris- 
tian Inhabitants likewise were frequently in- 
volved in the same Calamity. 

The French having a long Time felt the 
Inconveniencies and Dangers they were in 
from this restless warlike Spirit of the Five 
Nations, made use of this Time of Peace to 
guard against it for the future, and were very 
diligent in pursuing the most prudent Meas- 
ures. They sent some of their wisest Priests 
and Jesuits to reside among them, and the 
Governors of New- York were ordered, by the 
23 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Duke of York, to give these Priests all the 
Incouragement in their Power. The chief 
View of these Priests was, to give the Indians 
the highest Opinion of the French Power and 
Wisdom, and to render the English as sus- 
pected and as mean as possible in their Eyes. 
They waited likewise for every Opportunity 
to breed a Quarrel between the English and 
the Indians, and to withdraw the Five Na- 
tions from lighting with those Nations that 
traded to Canada. For these Purposes these 
Priests were instrumental in turning the Ee- 
sentment of the Five Nations against the 
Indians, that were in Friendsliip with Vir- 
ginia and Maryland. The Governor of Mary- 
land, on the other Hand, to prevent the ill 
Consequences, that might happen by Wars 
between Nations that were in Friendship with 
the English, and lived in their Neighbour- 
hood, sent Colonel Coursey, in the Year 1677, 
to Albany, to increase the Friendship between 
Virginia and Maryland on the one Part, and 
the Five Nations on the other ; and, accord- 
ingly, both Sides gave mutual Promises at 
Albany : But this good Understanding was 
soon shaken by some Parties of the Oney- 
does, Onondagas, and Senekas, who were out 
when this Treaty was made, and were igno- 
rant of it. One of them met with the Sus- 
guehana Indians, who were in Friendship 
with Maryland, and fell upon them ; they 
24 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

killed four of the Susguehanas, and took six 
Prisoners. Five of these Prisoners fell to 
the Share of the Senekas, who, as soon as 
they arrived in their own Country, sent them 
back with Presents, to shew that they kept 
their Promises with Maryland; buttheOney- 
does detained the Prisoner they had. 

Another Party, that went against the Cana- 
gesse Indians (Friends of Virginia) were sur- 
prised by a Troop of Horse, who killed one 
Man, and took a Woman Prisoner : The In- 
dians, in Kevenge, killed four of the Inhabi- 
tants, and carried away their Scalps, with six 
Christian Prisoners. 

The Mohawks, all this while, kept strictly 
to their Words, and suffered none of their 
Men to go towards Virginia and Maryland. 

There is Reason to think that the Dutch, 
who lived about Albany at that Tinu^, spirited 
up the Indians against the English ; the na- 
tional Differences, that were then recent, 
bred a Eancour in their Spirits. Some Dutch- 
men persuaded the Oneydoes, that the Eng- 
lish at New-York were resolved to destroy 
them, and put them into a terrible Disturb- 
ance; for here the Dutch and the French 
Priests joined in the same Measures. The 
Commandant at Albany hearing of this, sent 
two Interpreters of the Indian Language, to 
persuade the Oneydoes to come to Albany, 
in Order to be assured of the English Friend- 
25 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

ship, and to have their Jealousy removed; 
which being done, Swerise, one of the chief 
Sachems of the Oneydoes, excused his Coun- 
trymen at Albany the fifteenth of February 
1G79, by laying the Blame on the People of 
Schenectady, who had informed not one, but 
several of their People, and at several Times, 
tliat the English designed to cut them all off; 
and said, had they not Reason to believe the 
People of Schenectady, who are Friends and 
Neighbours to the English? They brought 
with them a Christian Woman and her Child, 
that had been taken Prisoners, and restored 
them, praying the Governor to use his Inter- 
est to have their People restored, that had 
been taken by the People of Virginia ; but 
they kept another Christian Woman and her 
two Children, which they said they did only 
till such Time as their Prisoners should be 
restored, or some Canastoga Indians given in 
their Place. 

When the Five Nations make Peace with 
another Nation, that has taken some of the 
Five Nations Prisoners, if these Prisoners be 
dead, or cannot be restored, they usually de- 
mand some Indians, in Friendship with the 
Five Nations, in their stead; who either are 
adopted in Place of their dead Friends, or 
restored to their own Nation ; and sometimes 
they desire some of their Enemies to be given 
to them, and even those frequently are 
26 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

adopted by a Father in Place of a Son, or by 
a Sister in Place of a Brother, and, most fre- 
quently, by a Wife in Place of a Husband 
lost in the Wars ; but if they chance not to 
be agreeable to the Relations, then they are 
certainly made Sacrifices to their Revenge. 

Governor Andross, being acquainted by Let- 
ter with this last Proposal of the Oneydoes, 
required the immediate Delivery of the Chris- 
tian Prisoners, and promised to write to Vir- 
ginia to have the Indian Prisoners sav'd. 
Some Presents being given to the Oneydoes, 
and they promised to bring them in a Month's 
Time. 

They, at the same Time, informed the 
Commandant at Albany, that eight of their 
Men were then out against the People of Vir- 
ginia; that they knew nothing of what was 
now promised; and therefore, in Case they 
should do any Harm, they desired that it 
might not be taken as a Breach of their 
Promises they now made. They promised 
likewise to inform the Governor of every 
Thing these Parties shou'd happen to do. In 
the last Place they said, we shall be very 
sorry if any Thing should happen to the 
Prisoners that we have promised to restore, 
lest it should create some Jealousies of us, 
we hope that you Avill consider that they are 
mortal. Accordingly, in May following, the 
Oneydoes brought the other three Prisoners 
27 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

to Albany, and, on the Twenty-fourth of that 
Month, Swerise, when he delivered them to 
the Commandant at Albany, and the Com- 
missioners for Indian Affairs, said, 
" Brethren, 

"We are come to this Place with much 
Trouble, as we did last Winter, and renew 
the Request we then made, that six Indians 
be delivered to us in the Room of these six 
Christians, in Case our People, who are Pris- 
oners, be dead. None of us have gone out 
against the Christians since we were last here ; 
but we told you then that some were then 
out, who knew nothing of the Governor's 
Orders, and we desired, that if any Thing 
happened it might not be taken ill. Now 
thirteen of our People, who went out against 
our Indian Enemies, met eighteen ]Men on 
Horseback, as far from any of the English 
Plantations as Cahnuaga is from Albany, 
they fired upon our People ; our Men, being 
Soldiers, returned their Fire, and killed two 
Men and two Horses, and brought away their 
Scalps. 

" It would be convenient that the Governor 
tell the People of Virginia, not to send their 
Men so far from Home ; for if they should 
meet our Parties in their Way against our 
Enemies, the Cahnowas, whom the English 
call Arogisti, we cannot answer for the Con- 
sequences. 

as 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

"We have now observed the Governor's 
Orders, in bringing the three other Christian 
Prisoners; and we trnst the Affair of onr 
Prisoners wholly to the Governor. 

" We have now performed onr Promises : 
But where are our Prisoners ; or, if they be 
dead, the othei's in their Room ; now when 
it is so late in the Spring? However, we 
will still trust this to the Governor." 

Then delivering the Prisoners one by one, 
said, " We have, we say, now performed our 
Promises, and are not ashamed. We hope 
Corlaer, who governs the whole Country, will 
likewise do that, of which he need not be 
ashamed. 

"Corlaer governs the whole Land, from 
New-York to Albany, and from thence to 
the Senekas Land ; we, who are his Inferiors, 
shall faithf Lilly keep the Chain : Let him per- 
form his Promise, as we have ours, that the 
Chain be not broken on his Side, who governs 
the whole Country." 

Then the Commissioners gave them Pre- 
sents for their kind Usage of the Prisoners. 

After which Swerise stood up again and 
said; "Let Corlaer take Care, that the Indian 
Woman, that is wanting, be restored, and, 
for those that are killed, others in their 
Room. If Corlaer will not give Ear to us in 
this Affair, we will not hereafter give Ear to 
him in any Thing." 

29 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Hearing afterwards, that these last Words 
were ill taken, Swerise, with two more of the 
chief Oneydoe Sachems, excused it, saving; 
" What we said, of not hearkening any more 
to Corlaer, did not proceed from the Heart, 
but was spoken by Way of Argument, to 
make Corlaer more careful to release our 
People that are Prisoners ; and you may be 
convinced it was so, when you consider tliat 
it was said after your Answer, and without 
laying down either Bever, or any Belt or 
Wampum, as we always do, when we make 
Propositions;* therefore we desire, that, if 
it be noted, it may be blotted out, and not 
made known to Corlaer, for we hold firmly 
to our Covenant, as we said in our Proposi- 
tions." 

They, at the same Time, told them, That 
the Sinondowans t came to them with eight 
Belts, desiring them no longer to prosecute 
the War with the A'irginia Indians, but to go 
to War against the Dewaganas,]; a Nation 
lying to the North-westward ; and that the 
Sennekas did desire them to set these Chris- 

* The Word Proposition lias been always used by 
the Commissioners for Indian Affairs at Albany, to 
signify Proposals or Articles in the Treaties or 
Agreements made with the Indians. 

f A Castle of the Sennekas, from whence the 
French call the Sennekas Tonontouan. 

X Comprehended under the general Name of Uta- 
wawas. 

30 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

tians at Liberty, and to cany them to Al- 
bany ; all which we promised to do. 

Th£ Five Nations continuing however still 
to be troublesome to Virginia, that Govern- 
ment, in September following, sent Colonel 
William Kendall, and Colonel Southley Lit- 
tleton, to Albany, to renew and confirm the 
Friendship between Virginia and the Five 
Nations. Colonel Littleton died at Albany, 
before the Indians arrived; and Colonel Ken- 
dall spoke first to the Oneydoes, and told 
them in a set Speech, " That their People had 
taken away and destroyed their Goods and 
People, and brought some of the Women and 
Children of Virginia Captives into their Cas- 
tles, contrary to that Faith and Promise, and 
in Breach of the Peace made with Colonel 
Coursey, without any the least Provocation, 
or Injury done, by the People of Virginia. 
However, through the great Eespect Virginia 
has to their Nations, and by the Persuasions 
of the Governor of New- York, and the In- 
formation he has given the Government of 
Virginia, that they had quietly and peaceably 
delivered to him the Prisoners taken from 
Virginia, who were returned safely ; and their 
excusing the same, and Inclination to live 
peaceably, without injuring Virginia for the 
future ; the Government of Virginia did for- 
give all the Damages the Five Nations have 
done to the People of Virginia, though very 
31 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

great; provided that they, or any living 
among them, for the future, do not offend, or 
molest the People of Virginia, or Indians liv- 
ing among them.'' 

He spoke to the Mohawks and Sennekas, 
separately from the Oneydoes, because they 
had not done any Mischief, and promised 
them kind and neighbourly Usage when the} 
came to Virginia, and gave them Presents ; 
they returned the Compliment, with an As- 
surance of their Friendship, and condoled 
Colonel Littleton's Death, after the Indian 
Manner, by a Present of a Belt of black 
Wampum, besides the Belt given, on renewal 
of the Friendship. 

The Onnondagas did not come till Novem- 
ber ; on the fifth of which Month the Virginia 
Agent spoke to them, in the same Words he 
did to the Oneydoes. It does not appear, by 
the Register of Indian Affairs, what Answer 
the Oneydoes and Onnondagas made, but it 
is certain they did not observe Friendship 
with Virginia, but molested them with reiter- 
ated Incursions of their Parties. It is ob- 
servable, however, that these two Nations, 
and the Cayugas, only had French Priests 
among them at that Time, and that none of 
the rest ever molested the English ; for which 
Reason, Colonel Dongan, notwithstanding the 
Orders he had received from his INIaster, and 
that he himself was a Papist, complained of 
32 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the ill Offices these Priests did to the English 
Interest, and forbid the Five Nations to en- 
tertain any of them; though the English and 
French Crowns, while he was Governor of 
New- York, seemed to be more than ever in 
strict Friendsliip. 

The Frencli had no Hopes of persuading 
the Five Nations to break with New-York 
directly, but they were in Hopes, that, by 
the Indian Parties doing frequent Mischief in 
Virginia, the Government of New-York would 
be forsed to join, in resenting the Injury, and 
thereby that Union, between the Government 
of New-York and the Five Nations, would 
be broke, which always obstructed, and often 
defeated, the Design the French had, of sub- 
jecting all North America to the Crown of 
France. For this Reason, the Governors of 
New- York have always, with the greatest 
Caution, avoided a Breach with these Na- 
tions, on Account of the little Differences 
they had with the neighbouring Colonies. 
These new Incursions of these two Nations 
were so troublesome to the People of Vir- 
ginia, that their Governor, the Lord Howard 
of Effingham, thought it necessary, for their 
Security, to undertake a Journey to New- 
York. 

I shall give a particular Account of this 
Affair, which was thought of such Conse- 
quence, that a Peer of England left his Gov- 
Vol. I.— 3 33 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

ernment, and travelled four-hundred Miles, 
to treat with the Five Nations; and shall 
take this Opportunity of describing some 
Ceremonies they use, in making Peace. 

The Sachems of the Five Nations being 
called to Albany, eight Mohawks, three Oney- 
does, three Onnondagas, and three Cayuga 
Sachems, met his Lordship there; and, on 
the thirteenth of July, 1684, he, accompanied 
by two of the Council of Virginia, spoke to 
the Sachems as follows, in the Presence of 
Colonel Thomas Dongan, Governor of New- 
York, and the Magistrates of Albany. The 
Senekas being far off, were not then arrived. 



Proj^osals made by the Right Honourable 
Francis Lord Hoivard of Effingham^ Gov- 
ernor-general of his Majesty^ s Dominion 
of Virginia, to the Mohawks, Oneydoes, 
Onnondagas, and Cayugas. 

" XT is now about seven Y'ears, said he, 
A since you (unprovoked) came into Vir- 
ginia, a Country belonging to the great King 
of England, and committed several Murders 
and Robberies, carrying away our Christian 
Women and Children Prisoners into your 
Castles. All which Injuries we designed to 
have revenged on you, but at the Desire of 
Sir Edmond Andross, then Governor-general 
of this Country, we desisted from destroying 
34 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

you, and sent our Agents, Colonel William 
Kendal, and Colonel Southey Littleton, to 
confirm and make sure the Peace, that Colo- 
nel Coursey of Maryland included us in, when 
he first treated with you. We find, that as 
you quickly forgot what you promised Colo- 
nel Coursey, so you have wilfully broke the 
Covenant-chain which you promised our 
Agent, Colonel Kendal, should be kept more 
strong and bright, if we of Virginia would 
bury, in the Pit of Oblivion, the Injury then 
done us; which, upon Governor Andross's 
Intercession, and your Submission, we were 
willing to forget : But you not at all minding 
the Covenant then made, have every Year 
since, come into our Country in a war-like 
Manner, under Pretence of fighting with 
our Indians, our Friends and Neighbours, 
which you ought not to have done, our Agent 
having included them likewise in the Peace. 
You not only destroyed, and took several of 
them Prisoners, but you have also killed and 
burnt our Christian People, destroying Corn 
and Tobacco, more than you made Use of, 
killed our Horses, Hogs, and Cattle ; not to 
eat, but to let them lie in the Woods and 
stink : This you did, when you were not de- 
ided any Thing you said you wanted. 

" I must also tell you, that, under the 
Pretence of Friendship, you have come to 
Houses at the Heads of our Rivers (when 
35 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

they have been fortified) with a white Sheet 
on a Pole, and have laid down your Guns be- 
fore the Fort ; upon which, our People taking 
you for Friends, have admitted your great 
Men into their Forts, and have given them 
Meat and Drink, what they desired. After 
the great Men had refreshed themselves, and 
desiring to return, as they were let out of the 
Fort-gates, the young Men commonly rushed 
into the Fort, and plundered the Houses, 
taking away, and destroying all the Corn, 
Tobacco, and Bedding, and what else was in 
the Houses. When they went away, they 
generally also took several Sheep with them, 
and killed several Cows big with Calf, and 
left them behind them cut to Pieces, and 
flung about, as if it were in Defiance of us, 
and in Derision of our Friendship. These, 
and many more Injuries that you have done 
us, have caused me to raise Forces, to send 
to the Heads of our Rivers, to defend our 
People from these Outrages, till I came to 
New- York, to Colonel Thomas Dongan, your 
Governor-general, to desire him, as we are all 
one King's Subjects, to assist me in warring 
against you, to revenge the Christian Blood 
that you have shed, and to make you give full 
satisfaction for all the Goods that you have 
destroyed: But by the Mediation of your 
Governor, I am now come to Albany to speak 
with you, and to know the Reason of your 
36 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

breaking the Covenant-chain, not only with 
us and our neighbour Indians, but with Mary- 
land, who are great King Charles's Subjects; 
for our Indians have given King Charles their 
Land; therefore I, the Governor of Virginia, 
will protect them, as your Governor, under 
the great Duke of York and Albany, will 
henceforth you, when the Chain of Friend- 
ship is made between us all. 

" Now I liave let you know, that I am 
sensible of all the Injuries you have done us, 
and by the Desire of your Governor-general, 
I am willing to make a new Chain with you 
for Virginia, Maryland, and our Indians, that 
may be more strong and lasting, even to the 
Word's End; so that we maybe Brethren, 
and great King Charles's Children. 

" I propose to you, first. That you call out 
of our Countries of Virginia and Maryland, 
all your young Men or Soldiers that are now 
there. 

" Secondly, That you do not hinder or mo- 
lest our friendly Indians from hunting in our 
Mountains, it having been their Country, and 
none of yours; tliey never go into your Coun- 
try to disturb any of you. 

" Thirdly, Though the Damages you have 
done our Country be very great, and would 
require a great deal of Satisfaction, which 
you are bound to give ; yet we assure you, 
that only by the Persuasions of your Gov- 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

ernor, who is at a vast deal of Trouble and 
Charge for your Welfare, which you ever 
ought to acknowledge, I have pass'd it by 
and forgiven you ; upon this Condition, that 
your People, nor any living among you, for 
the future, ever commit any Incursions upon 
our Christians or Indians living among us, or 
in Maryland. 

" For the better Confirmation of the same, 
and that the Peace now concluded may be 
lasting, I propose to have two Hatchets * 
buried, as a final Determination of all Wars 
and Jarrings between us ; one on behalf of 
us and our Indians, and the other for all your 
Nations united together, that ever did us any 
Injury, or pretended to war against our In- 
dian Friends, or those of INIaryland. 

"And that nothing may be wanting for 
Confirmation thereof (if you desire it) we are 
willing to send some of our Indian Sachems, 
with an Agent, next Summer, about this 
Time, that they may ratify the Covenant with 
you here, in this prefixed House, where you 
may see and speak together as Friends. 

" That the Covenant now made between us, 
in this prefixed House, in the Presence of 
your Governor, may be firmly kept and per- 
formed on your Parts, as it always has been 
on ours ; and that you do not break any one 

* All Indians make Use of a Hatchet or Axe, as 
an Emblem to express War. 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Link of the Covenant-chain for the future, 
by your People's coming near our Plantations ; 
when you march to the Southward, keep to 
the Feet of the Mountains, and do not come 
nigh the Heads of our Kivers, there being no 
Bever-hunting there; for we shall not for 
the future, though you lay down your Arms 
as Friends, ever trust you more, you have so 
often deceived us." 

The next Day the Mohawks answer' d first 
by their Speaker, saying : 

" We must, in the first Place, say some- 
thing to the other three Nations, by Way of 
Reproof, for their not keeping the former 
Chain, as they ought ; and therefore we desire 
you, great Sachem of Virginia, and you Cor- 
lear, and all here present to give Ear, for we 
will conceal nothing of the Evil they have 
done." [Then turning to the other Nations.] 
" You have heard Yesterday all that has been 
said; as for our Parts, we are free of the 
Blame laid on us ; we have always been obe- 
dient to Corlaer, and have steadily kept our 
Chain with Virginia, Maryland, and Boston ; 
but ye are stupid and brutish, and have no 
Understanding, we must stamp Understand- 
ing into you. Let the new Chain made Yes- 
terday be carefully preserved for the future. 
This we earnestly recommend to you, for we 
are ready to cry for Shame of you ; let us be 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

no more ashamed on your Account, but be 
obedient, and take this Belt, to keep what 
we say in your Memory. 

" Hear now, now is the Time to hearken ; 
the Covenant-chain had very near slipt, by 
your not keeping it firmly. Hold it fast now, 
when all former Evils are buried in the Pit. 

" You Oneydoes, I speak to you as Chil- 
dren; be no longer childish, or void of Un- 
derstanding. 

"You Onondagas, our Brethren, you are 
like deaf People, that cannot hear, your 
Senses are covered with Dirt and Filth. 

"You Cayugas, do not return into your 
former Ways, There are three Things we 
must all observe. 

" First, The Covenant with Corlear. Sec- 
ondly, the Covenant with Virginia and Mary- 
land. Thirdly, with Boston. We must 
stamp Understanding into you, that you may 
be obedient; and take this Belt for a Re- 
membrancer." 

Then Cadianne, the same Mohawk Speaker, 
turning to my Lord, said : 

"We are very thankful to you, great 
Sachem of Virginia, that you are persuaded 
by Corlear, our Governor, to forgive all 
former Faults. We are very glad to hear 
you, and see your Heart softened. Take 
these three Bevers as a Token. 
40 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

"We thank the great- Sachem of Virginia 
for saying, that the Axe shall be thrown into 
the Pit. Take these two Bevers, as a Token 
of our Joy and Thankfuhiess. 

" We are glad that Assarigoa * will bury 
in the Pit what is past. Let the Earth be 
trod hard over it; or rather, let a strong 
Stream run under the Pit, to wash the Evil 
away out of our Sight and Remembrance, and 
that it may never be digged up again. 

" Assarigoa, you are a jMan of Knowledge 
and Understanding, thus to keep tlie Cover- 
nant-chain bright as Silver ; and now again to 
renew it, and make it stronger. (Then point- 
ing to the three other Nations, said,) But 
they are Chain-breakers. I lay down this as 
a Token, that we Mohawks have preserved 
the Chain intire on our Parts. Gives two 
Bevers and a Eacoon. 

" The Covenant must be kept ; for the Fire 
of Love of Virginia and Maryland burns in 
this Place, as well as ours, and this House of 
Peace must be kept clean. Gives two Bevers. 

" We now plant a Tree,t whose Top will 
reach the Sun, and its Branches spread far 
abroad, so that it shall be seen afar off ; and 
we shall shelter ourselves under it, and live 

*The Name the Five Nations always give the 
Governor of Virginia. 

f The Five Nations always express Peace by the 
Metaphor of a Tree. 

41 



THE HISTORY OP THE 

in Peace without Molestation. Here lie gave 
two Bevers. 

" You proposed Yesterday, that if we were 
desirous to see the Indians of Virginia, you 
are willing to send some of their Sachems 
next Summer, about this Time, to this Place. 
This Proposal pleases me very much, the 
sooner they come the better, that we may 
speak with them in this House, which is ap- 
pointed for our speaking with our Friends; 
and give two Belts to confirm it. 

'' You have now heard what Exhortation 
we have made to the other three Nations; 
we have taken the Hatchet out of their 
Hands; we now therefore pray, that both 
your Hatchets may likewise be buried in a 
deep Pit. Giving two Bevers. 

"Assarigoa, some of us Mohawks are out 
against our Enemies, that lie afar off, they 
will do you no Harm, nor plunder, as the 
others do. Be kind to them, if they shall 
happen to come to any of your Plantations ; 
give them some Tobacco and some Victuals ; 
for they will neither rob nor steal, as the 
Oneydoes, Onnondagas, and Cayugas have 
done. 

"The Oneydoes particularly thank you, 
great Sachem of Virginia, for consenting to 
lay down the Axe. The Hatchet is taken 
out of all their hands. Gives a Belt. 

"We again thank Assarigoa, that he has 
42 



FIVE INDIAK NATIONS, &c. 

made a new Chain. Let it be kept bright 
and clean, and held fast on all Sides ; let not 
any one pull his Arm from it. We include 
all the four Nations, in giving this Belt. 

"We again pray Assarigoa, to take the 
Oneydoes into his Favour, and keep the Chain 
strong with them ; for they are our Children. 
Gives a Belt. 

" The Oneydoes give twenty Bevers, as a 
Satisfaction for what they promised the Lord 
Baltimore, and desire that they may be dis- 
charged of that Debt." 

The two Governors told them, that they 
would use their Endeavours with the Lord 
Baltimore, to persuade him to forgive what 
remained. 

Then the Indians desired that the Hole 
might be dug, to bury the Axes, viz. one in 
Behalf of Virginia and their Indians, another 
in Behalf of Maryland and theirs, and three 
for the Onnondagas, Oneydoes, and Ca^^igas. 
The Mohawks said, there was no Need of 
burying any on their Account, for the first 
Chain had never been broke by them. 

Then the three Nations spoke by an On- 
nondaga, called Thanohjanihta, who said : 

" We thank the great Sachem of Virginia, 
that he has so readily forgiven and forgot 
the Injuries that have been done ; and we, 
for our Parts, gladly catch at, and lay hold 
of the new Chain. Then each of them 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

delivered an Axe to be buried, and gave a 
Belt. 

" I speak in the Name of all three Nations, 
and include them in this Chain, which we 
desire may be kept clean and bright like 
Silver. Gives a Belt. 

" We desire that the Path may be open for 
the Indians under Assarigoa's Protection, to 
come safely and freely to this Place, in order 
to confirm the Peace. Gives six Fathom of 
Wampum." 

Then the Axes were buried in the south- 
east End of the Court-yard, and the Indians 
threw the Earth upon them ; after which the 
Lord Howard told them, since now a firm 
Peace is concluded, we shall hereafter remain 
Friends, and Virginia and Maryland will send 
once in two or three Years to renew it, and 
some of our Sachems shall come, according to 
your Desire, to confirm it. 

Last of all the Oneydoes, the Onnondagas, 
and Cayugas, jointly sang the Peace-song, 
with Demonstrations of much Joy; and 
thanked the Governor of Xew-Y"ork for his 
effectual Mediation with the Governor of 
Virginia in their Favour. 

Colonel Dungan had gained the Affections 
of the Five Nations, and they esteemed him 
much. 

They desired the Duke of Y^ork's Arms to 
put upon their Castles, which, from the 
44 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Sequel of their Story, we may suppose they 
were told would save them from the French. 
Colonel Dungan desired them to call Home 
those of their Nations that had settled in 
Canada.* To which they answered, Corlear 
keeps a Correspondence and Friendship with 
Canada, and therefore he can prevail more 
than we can. Let Corlear use his Endeav- 
ours to draw our Indians Home to their own 
Country. 

The Government of the Massachusets Bay 
had appointed Colonel Stephanus Cortland, 
one of the Council of New- York, their Agent 
at this Time, to renew their Friendship like- 
wise with the Five Nations, and to give them 
some small Presents ; which was accordingly 
done. 

*The French Priests had, from Time to Time, 
persuaded several of the Five Nations to leave their 
own Country, and to settle near Montreal; where 
the French are very industrious in encouraging 
them. Their Numbers have been likewise increased 
by the Prisoners the French have taken in War, and 
by others that have run from their own Country ; 
because of some Mischief that they had done, or 
Debts which they owed the Christians. These In- 
dians are all profess'd Papists, and for that Reason 
are commonly called the praying Indians by their 
Countrymen, and they are called Cahnuagas by the 
People of Albany, from the Place where they live; 
the French value them on Account of the Intelli- 
gence they give in Time of War, and their Knowl- 
edge of the Countries. 

45 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

The Governor of New- York, Colonel Dun- 
gan, concluded with this Advice to them: 
Keep a good Understanding among your- 
selves; if any Difference happen, acquaint 
me with it, and I will compose it. Make no 
Agreement with the French, or any other 
Nation, without my Knowledge and Appro- 
bation. Then he gave the Duke's Arms to 
be put up at each of their Castles, in Hopes 
it might deter the French from attacking 
them, (as they were threatened from Canada) 
by this so manifest a Declaration of their 
being under the Protection of the Crown of 
England, when the two Crowns were in the 
strictest Friendship ; but it is probable the 
French chose this very Time to attack them, 
to bring them off from that Confidence they 
seemed to have in the English. 

It may be proper, before I proceed, to 
insert here also a remarkable Speech made by 
the Onnondagas and Cayugas to the two 
Governors, on the second Day of August, viz. 

" Brother Corlear^ 

" Your Sachem is a great Sachem, and we 
are but a small People ; but when the English 
came first to Manhatan,^ to Aragiske f and 
to Yakokranagary, II they were then but a 
small People, and we were great. Then, 
because we found you a good People, we 

* New York. f Virginia. || Maryland. 
46 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

treated you kindly, and gave you Land; we 
hope therefore, now that you are great, and 
we small, you will protect us from the French. 
If you do not, we shall lose all our Hunting 
and Bevers: The French will get all the 
Be vers. The Eeason they are now angry 
with us is, because we carry our Bever to our 
Brethren. 

"We have put our Lands and ourselves 
under the Protection of the great Duke of 
York, the Brother of your great Sachem, who 
is likewise a great Sachem. 

" We have annexed the Susquehana River, 
which we won with the Sword, to this Gov- 
ernment ; and we desire it may be a Branch 
of the great Tree that grows in this Place, 
the Top of which reaches the Sun, and its 
Branches shelter us from the French, and all 
other Nations. Our Fire burns in your 
Houses, and your Fire burns with us; we 
desire it may be so always. But we will not 
that any of the great Penn's People settle 
upon the Susquehana River, for we have no 
other Land to leave to our Children. 

" Our young Men are Soldiers, and when 
they are provoked, they are like Wolves in 
the Woods, as you. Sachem of Virginia, very 
well know. 

" We have put ourselves under the great 
Sachem Charles, that lives on the other Side 
the great Lake. We give you these two 
47 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

white dressed Deei-skins, to send to the great 
Sachem, that he may write on them, and put 
a great red Seal to them, to confirm what we 
now do ; and put tlie Susquehana Eiver above 
the Falls, and all the rest of our Land under 
the great Duke of York, and give that Land 
to none else. Our Brethren, his People, have 
been like Fathers to our Wives and Children, 
and have given us Bread when we were in 
Need of it; we will not therefore join our- 
selves, or our Land, to any other Government 
but this. We desire Corlear, our Governor, 
may send this our Proposition to the great 
Sachem Charles, who dwells on the other 
Side the great Lake, with this Belt of Wam- 
pum, and this other smaller Belt to the Duke 
of York his Brother : And we give you, Cor- 
lear, this Bever, that you may send over this 
Proposition. 

" You great Man of Virginia, we let you 
know, that great Penn did speak to us here 
in Corlear' s House by his Agents, and de- 
sired to buy the Susquehana Eiver of us, but 
we would not hearken to him, for we had fast- 
ened it to this Government. 

" We desire you therefore to bear witness 
of what we now do, and that we now confirm 
what we have done before. Let your Friend, 
that lives on the other Side the great Lake, 
know this, that we being a free People, 
though united to the English, may give our 



FIVE INDIAN NxVTIONS, &c. 

Lands, and be joined to the Sachem we like 
best. We give this Bever to remember what 
we say/' 

The Senekas arrived soon after, and, on 
the fifth of August, spoke to the Lord Howard 
in the following Planner : 

" We have heard and understood what Mis- 
chief hath been done in Virginia ; we have it 
as perfect as if it were upon our Fingers 
Ends. Corlear ! we thank you for having 
been our Intercessor, so that the Axe has not 
fallen, upon us. 

"And you Assarigoa, great Sachem of Vir- 
ginia, we thank you for burying all Evil in 
the Pit. We are informed, that the Mo- 
hawks, Oneydoes, Onnondagas, and Cayugas, 
have buried the Axe already; now we that 
live remotest off, are come to do the same, 
and to include in this Chain the Cahnawaas, 
your Friends. We desire therefore, that an 
Axe, on our Part, may be buried with one of 
Assarigoa's. Corlear! Corlear! we thank 
you for laying hold of one End of the Axe ; 
and we thank you, great Governor of Vir- 
ginia, not only for throwing aside the Axe, 
but more especially for your putting all Evil 
from your Heart. Now we have a new 
Chain, a strong and a straight Chain, that 
cannot be broken. The Tree of Peace is 
planted so firmly, that it cannot be moved; 
let us on both Sides hold the Chain fast. 

Vol. I.-4 49 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

" We understand what you said of the great 
Sachem, that lives on the other Side the great 
Water. 

" You tell us, that the Cahnawaas will 
come hither, to strengthen the Chain. Let 
them not make any Excuse, that they are old 
and feeble, or that their Feet are sore. If 
the old Sachems cannot, let the young Men 
come. We shall not fail to come hither, tho' 
we live farthest off, and then the new Chain 
will be stronger and brighter. 

" We understand, that because of the Mis- 
chief that has been done to the People and 
Castles of Virginia and Maryland, we must 
not come near the Heads of your Rivers, nor 
near your Plantations, but keep at the Foot 
of the Mountains ; for tho' we lay down our 
Arms, as Friends, we shall not be trusted for 
the future, but looked on as Robbers. We 
agree however to this Proposition, and shall 
wholly stay away from Virginia : And this 
we do in Gratitude to Corlear, who has been 
at so great Pains to persuade you, great Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, to forget what is past. 
You are wise in giving Ear to Corlear' s good 
Advice, for we shall now go a Path which 
was never trod before. 

"We have now done speaking to Corlear, 
and the Governor of Virginia ; let the Chain 
be for ever kept clean and bright by him, 
and we shall do the same. 
50 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

"The other ISTations from the Mohawks 
Country to the Cayugas, have delivered 
up the Susquehana Eiver, and all that 
Country, to Corlear's Government. We 
confirm what they have done by giving this 
Belt." 

Coll. Bird, one of the Council of Virginia, 
and Edmond Jennings Esq; Attorney Gen- 
eral of that Province, came with four Indian 
Sachems, (according to the Lord Howard's 
Promise) to renew and confirm the Peace, 
and met the Five Nations at Albany in Sep- 
tember 1685. 

Coll. Bird accused them of having again 
broke their Promise, by taking an Indian 
Girl from an English Man's House, and four 
Indian Boys Prisoners. 

They excused this, by its being done by 
the Parties that were out when the Peace was 
concluded, who knew nothing of it; which 
Accident they had provided against in their 
Articles. They said, the four Boys were 
given to the Relations of those Men that were 
lost ; and it would be difficult to obtain their 
Restoration : But they at last promised to 
deliver them up. 

The Senakas and Mohawks declared them- 
selves free of any Blame, and chid the other 
Nations. 

So that we may still observe the Influence 
which the French Priests had obtained over 
61 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

those other Nations, and to what Christian 
like Purpose they used it. 

The Mohawks Speaker said, " Where shall 
I seek the Chain of Peace? AVhere shall I 
find it but upon our Path? * And whither 
doth our Path lead us, but into this House? 
This is a House of Peace ; " after this he 
sang all the Links of the Chain over. He 
afterwards sang by Way of Admonition to 
the Onondagas, Oneydoes, and Cayugas, and 
concluded all with a Song to the Virginia 
Indians. 

The French Priests however still employed 
their Influence over the Onnondagas, Cayu- 
gas, and Oneydoes; and it was easy for them 
to spirit up the Indians (naturally revenge- 
ful) against their old Enemies. A Party of 
the Oneydoes went out two Years after this 
against the Wayanoak Indians, Friends of 
Virginia, and killed some of the People of 
Virginia, who assisted those Indians. They 
took six Prisoners, but restored them at Al- 
bany, with an Excuse, that they did not know 
they were Friends of Virginia. But Coll. 
Dungan on this Occasion told them, That he 
only had kept all the English in North- 
America from joining together to destroy 
them ; that if ever he should hear of the like 
Complaint, he would dig up the Hatchet, and 

* The ]\lohawks Country is situated between the 
Qther Nations and Albany. 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

joiii with the rest of the English to cut them 
off Root and fh-anch ; for there were many 
Complaints made of him to the King by the 
English, as well as by the Governor of Can- 
ada, for his fav^ouring of them. 

We have now gone through the material 
Transactions Avhich the Five Nations had 
with the English, in which we find the Eng- 
lish pursuing nothing but peaceable and Chris- 
tian-like Measures; and the Five Nations 
(tho' Barbarians) living with the People of 
New- York, like good Neighbours and faith- 
ful Friends, and generally with all the Eng- 
lish also, except when they were influenced 
by the Jesuites ; at the same Time, one can- 
not but admire the Zeal, Courage, and Reso- 
lution of these Jesuites, that would adventure 
to live among Indians at War with their Na- 
tion ; and the better to carry their Purposes, 
to comply with all the Humours and Man- 
ners of such a wild People, so as not to be 
distinguished by Strangers from meer Indians. 
One of them, named Milet, remained with 
the Oneydoes till after the Year 1694; he 
was advanced to the Degree of a Sachem, and 
had so great an Influence over them, that the 
other Nations could not prevail with them to 
part with him. While he lived with them, 
the Oneydoes were frequently turned against 
the Southern Indians (Friends of the English 
southern Colonies) and were always wavering 
63 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

in their Resolutions against the French at 
Canada. 

We shall now see what Effect the Policy 
of the French had, who pursued very differ- 
ent Measures from the EDglish. 



CHAP. IV. 

Mr. De la Barrels Expedition and some re- 
markable Transactions in 1684. 

THE French, in the Time they were at 
Peace with the Five Nations, built their 
Forts at Taidonderaghi and Missilimakinak, 
and made a Settlement there. They carried 
on their Commerce among the numerous Na- 
tions that live on the Banks of the great 
Lakes, and the Banks of the Mississipi ; they 
not only prosecuted their Trade among these 
Nations, but did all they could to secure 
their Obedience, and to make them absolutely 
subject to the Crown of France, by building 
Forts at the considerable Passes, and placing 
small Garisons in them. They took in short 
all the Precautions in their Power, not only 
to restrain the Indians by Force, but likewise 
to gain their Affections, by sending Mission- 
aries among them. The only Obstruction 
they met with was from the Five Nations, 
who introduced the English of New- York 
54 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

into the Lakes to trade with the Indians that 
lived round them. This gave the French 
much Uneasiness, because they foresaw, that 
the English would not only prove dangerous 
Rivals, but that the Advantages which they 
had in Trade, beyond what it was possible for 
the Inhabitants of Canada to have, would 
enable the People of New-York so far to un- 
dersel them, that their Trade would soon be 
ruined, and all the Interest lost which they 
had gained with so much Labour and Ex- 
pence. The Five Nations likewise continued 
in War with many of the Nations, with the 
Chictaghicks particularly, who yielded the 
most profitable Trade to the French ; and as 
often as they discovered any of the French 
carrying Ammunition towards these Nations, 
they fell upon them, and took all their 
Powder, Lead and Arms from them. This 
made the French Traders afraid of travelling, 
and prevented their Indians from huntmg, 
and also lessened the Opinion they had of the 
French Power, when they found that the 
French were not able to protect them against 
the Insults of the Five Nations. 

The Senakas lie next to the Lakes, and 
nearest to the Nations with whom the French 
carried on the greatest Trade, these People 
were so averse to that Nation, that they would 
never receive any Priests among them, and 
of Consequence were most firmly attach' d to 
55 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the English Interest, who supplied them with 
Anns and Powder (the Means to be revenged 
of their Enemies.) For these Eeasons Mr. 
De la Barre (Governor of Canada) sent a 
Messenger to Coll. Dungan, to complain of 
tlie Injuries the Senakas had done to the 
French, and to shew the Necessity he was 
under to bring the Five Kationsto Reason by 
Force of Arms. This Messenger happening 
to arrive at the Time the Indians met the 
Lord Howard at Albany, Coll. Dungan told 
the Senakas the Complaints that the French 
Governor made of them. To which they 
gave him the following Answer, in Presence 
of Mr. De la Barre' s Messenger, on the 5th 
of August 1684. 

" We were sent for, and are come, and have 
heard what you have said to us, that Corlear 
hath great Complaints of us, both from Vir- 
ginia and Canada. What they complain of 
from Canada may possibly be true, that some 
of our young Men have taken some of their 
Goods, but Yonnendio the Governor of Can- 
ada, is the Cause of it. He not only permits 
his People to carry Ammunition, Guns, Pow- 
der, Lead, and Axes to the Tuihtuih-ronoons * 
our Enemies, but sends them thither on pur- 

*Ronoon signifies Nation or People, in the Lan- 
guage of the Five Nations; they say Tuihtuih- 
ronoon, Chichighik-ronoon, Deonondadik - ronoon, 
&c. 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

pose. These Guns which he sends knocks 
our Bever Hunters on the Head, and our 
Enemies cany the Bevers to Canada that we 
would have brought to our Brethren. Our 
Bever Hunters are Soldiers, and could bear 
this no longer. They met some French in 
their Way to our Enemies, and very near 
them, carrying Ammunition, which our Men 
took from them. This is agreeable to our 
Customs in War ; and we may therefore openly 
own it, tho' we know not whether it be prac- 
tised by the Christians in such like Cases. 

" When the Governor of Canada speaks to 
us of the Chain, he calls us Children, and 
saith, I am your Father, you must hold fast 
the Chain, and I will do the same : I will 
protect you as a Father doth his Children 
Is this Protection, to speak thus with his 
Lips, and at the same Time to knock us on 
the Head, by assisting our Enemies with Am- 
munition? 

" He always says, I am your Father, and 
you are my Children ; and yet he is angry 
with his Children, for taking these Goods. 

"But, Corlear! Assarigoa! we must 
complain to you; you Corlear are a Lord, 
and govern this Country ; is it just that our 
Father is going to fight with us for these 
Things, or is it well done? We rejoiced when 
La Sal was sent over the great Water ; and 
when Perot was removed, because they had 
57 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

furnished our Enemies with Ammunition; 
but we are disappointed in our Hopes, for we 
find our Enemies are still supplied. Is this 
well done? Yea, he often forbids us to make 
AVar on any of the Nations with whom he 
trades; and at the same Time furnishes them 
with all Sorts of Ammunition, to enable them 
to destroy us. 

" Thus far in Answer to the Complaint the 
Governor of Canada hath made of us to Cor- 
lear. Corlear said to us, that Satisfaction 
must be made to the French for the Mischief 
we have done them. This he said before he 
heard our Answer. Now let him that hath 
Inspection over all our Countries, on whom 
our Eyes are fixed, let him, even Corlear, 
judge and determine. If you say that it must 
be paid, we shall j)ay it, but we cannot live 
without free Bever Hunting. 

" Corlear, hear what we say, we thank you 
for the Duke's Arms, which you have given 
us to be put in our Castles, as a Defence to 
them. You command them. Have we wan- 
dered out of the Way, as the Governor of 
Canada says? We do not threaten him with 
War, as he threatens us. What shall we do? 
Shall we run away, or shall we sit still in our 
Houses? What shall we do? we speak to 
him that governs and commands us. 

" Now Corlear, and Assarigoa, and all Peo- 
ple here present, remember what we have an- 
58 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

swered to the Coiiii)laiiits of tlie Governor of 
Canada; yea, we wish that what we here said 
may come to his Ears." Then they gave a 
Belt. 

Monsieur De ha Barre at this Time was 
gone, with all the Force of Canada, to Cada- 
rackui Fort, and ordered the three Vessels 
to be repaired which the French had built on 
Cadarackui Lake : His Design was to frighten 
the Five Nations into his own Terms, by 
the Appearance of the French Army, which 
consisted of GOO Soldiers of the regular 
Troops, 400 Indians, and 400 Men that car- 
ried Provisions, besides 300 ]\Ien that he left 
to secure Cadarackui Fort, and the western 
Indians, that he expected would join him. 
But while he was at this Fort, the Fatigue 
of travelling in the Month of August, together 
with the Unhealthiness of that Place (the 
Country there about being very marshy), 
where he tarried six Weeks, occasioned so 
great sickness in his Army, that he found 
himself unable to perform any Thing but by 
Treaty; and therefore sent Orders to Monsr. 
Dulhut, who was come from Missilimakinak 
with GOO Men, French and Indians, to stop. 
Monsr. De la Barre passed across the Lake, 
with as many Men as were able to travel, 
and arrived at the River which the French 
call La Famine, by the Indians called Kaiho- 
hage, which falls into the South Side of Cad- 
59 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

arackui Lake, about thirty Miles from Onnon- 
daga. There were two Villages of the Five 
Nations on the North Side of the Lake, about 
fifteen Miles from the French Fort, consist- 
ing of those Indians that had the most Incli- 
nation to the French : They provided the 
French Army with Provisions, while they 
remained at the Fort ; but it is i)robable, sent 
an Account to their own Nations of every 
Thing that happened; and that this was the 
Eeason of the Usage they afterwards met 
with from the French. 

When Monsr. De la Barre sent to Coll. 
Dungan, he was in Hopes, from the strict 
Alliance that was then between the Crowns 
of England and France, and from Coll. Dun- 
gan' s being a Papist, that he would at least 
sit still till he had reduced the Five Nations. 
But none of these Reasons permitted that 
Gentleman to be easy, while the French at- 
tempted such Things, as in their Consequences 
would be of the highest Degree prejudicial to 
the English Interest, and might put all the 
English Colonies in America in Danger. 
Wherefore he dispatched the publick Inter- 
preter, with Orders to do every Thing in his 
Power to prevent the Five Nations going to 
treat with ]Monsr. De la Barre. 

The Interpreter succeeded in his Design 
with the Mohawks, and with the Senakas, 
who promised that tliey would not go near 
60 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the French Governor: Bnt he had not the 
like Success with the Onnondagas, Oneydoes, 
and Cayugas, who had received the French 
Priests, for they woukl not hear the Inter- 
preter, but in Presence of the French Priests, 
and Monsr. la Main, and three other French- 
men that Monsr. De la Barre had sent to 
persuade them to meet him at Kaihohage ; 
they gave the following Answer to the 
Interpreter. 

"Arie, you are Corlear's Messenger, Oh- 
quesse * (Monsr. la Maine) is the Governor 
of Canada's; and there f sits our Father; 
Yonnondio acquainted us some Time ago, that 
he would speak with us, before he would un- 
dertake any Thing against the Senakas. Now 
he hath sent for all the Nations to speak with 
him in Friendship, and that at a Place not 
far from Onnondaga, even at Kaihohage. 
But our Brother Corlear tells us, that we must 
not meet the Governor of Canada Avithout 
his Permission ; and that if Yonnondio have 
any Thing to say to us, he must first send to 
Corlear for Leave to speak with us. Yon- 
nondio has sent long ago to us to speak with 
him, and he has lately repeated that Desire 
by Onnissantie the Brother of our Father 
Twirhaersira | that sits there ; he has not 

* That is, the Partridge, 
f Pointing to the Jesiiite. 

X The Indians commonly gave a new Name to any 
61 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

only entreated us by our Father, but by two 
praying Indians, one an Onnondaga, the other 
the Son of an old Mohawk Sachem, Connon- 
dowe. They brought five great Belts of 
Wampum, not a Fathom or two only, as you 
bring. Now Ohquesse has been sent with 
three Frenchmen ; Yonnondio not being con- 
tent with all this, has likewise sent Denne- 
hoct, and two other Mohawks, to persuade us 
to meet him, and to speak with him of good 
Things. Should we not go to him after all 
this Intreaty, when he is come so far, and so 
near to us? Certainly if we do not, we shall 
provoke his Wrath, and not deserve his 
Goodness. You say we are Subjects to the 
King of England and Duke of York, but 
we say we are Brethren. We must take Care 
of ourselves. Those Arms fixed upon the 
Posts, without the Gate, cannot defend us 
against the Arms of la Barre. Brother Cor- 
lear, we tell you, that we shall bind a Cove- 
nant Chain to our Arm, and to his, as thick 
as that Post, (pointing to a Post of the House) 
be not dissatisfied ; should we not embrace 
this Happiness offered us, viz. Peace, in the 
Place of War ; yea, we shall take the Evil 
Doers, the Senekas, by the Hand, and la 
Barre likewise, and their Ax and his Sword 

Person they receive or adapt into their Nation. This 
is the Jesuites Indian Name, the Interpretation 
whereof I know not. 

62 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

shall be thrown into a deep Water. We with 
our Brother Corlear were present, but it seems 
the Time will not permit of it." 

Accordingly Garangula, one of the chief 
Sachems of the Onondaga's, with thirty War- 
riors, went with Mr. Le Maine, to meet the 
Governor of Canada at Kaihohage. After he 
had been two Days in the French Camp, 
Monsr. la Barre spoke to him as follows, (the 
French Officers making a Semi-circle on one 
Side, while Garangula, with his Warriors, 
compleated the Circle on the other. 

Mo7isr. De la Barre' s Speech to Garangula.* 

" The King, my Master, being informed 
that the Five Nations have often infringed 
the Peace, has ordered me to come hither 
with a Guard, and to send Ohguesse to the 
Onondagas, to bring the chief Sachem to my 
Camp. The Intention of the great King is, 
that you and I may smoke the Calumet f of 

* Voyages du Baron de la Ilontan, Tomel. Letter 
7. 

f The Calumet is a large smoaking Pipe made of 
Marble, most commonly of a dark red, well polished, 
shaped somewhat in the Form of a Hatchet, and 
adorned with large Feathers of several Colours. It 
is used in all the Indian Treaties with Strangers, 
and as a Flag of Truce between contending Parties, 
which all the Indians think a very high Crime to 
violate. These Calumets are generally of nice 
63 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Peace together, but on this Condition, that 
you promise me, in the Name of the Senekas, 
Cayugas, Onondagas, and Mohawks, to give 
intire Satisfaction and Reparation to his Sub- 
jects; and for the future never to molest 
them. 

" The Senekas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oney- 
does, and ]Mohawks have robbed and abused 
all the Traders that were passing to the Illi- 
nois and Umamies, and other Indian Nations, 
the Children of my King. They have acted, 
on these Occasions, contrary to the Treaty of 
Peace with my Predecessor. I am ordered 
therefore to demand Satisfaction, and to tell 
them, that in case of Refusal, or their plun- 
dering us any more, that I have express 
Orders to declare War. This Belt confirms 
my Words. The Warriors of the Five Na- 
tions have conducted the English into the 
Lakes, which belong to the King, my Master, 
and brought the English among the Nations 
that are his Children, to destroy the Trade 
of his Subjects, and to withdraw these Na- 
tions from him. They have carried the Eng- 
lish thither, notwithstanding the Prohibition 
of the late Governor of New- York, who fore- 
Workmanship, aud were in Use before the Indians 
knew any Thing of the Christians; for which Rea- 
son we are at a Loss to conceive by what Means 
they pierced these Pipes, and shaped them so finely, 
before they had the Use of Iron. 
64 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

saw the Risque that both they and you would 
run. I am willing to forget these Things, 
but if ever the like shall happen for the 
future, I have express Orders to declare War 
against you. This Belt confirms my Words. 
Your Warriors have made several barbarous 
Incursions on the Illinois and Umamies ; they 
have massacred Men, Women, and Children, 
and have made many of these Nations Pris- 
oners, who thought themselves safe in their 
Villages in Time of Peace. These People, 
who are my King's Children, must not be 
your Slaves ; you must give them their Lib- 
erty, and send them back into their own 
Country. If the Five Nations shall refuse 
to do this, I have express Orders to declare 
War against them. This Belt confirms my 
Words. 

" This is what I have to say to Garangula, 
that he may carry to the Senekas, Onondagas, 
Oneydoes, Cayugas, and Mohawks the Decla- 
ration which the King, my Master, has com- 
manded me to make. He doth not wish them 
to force him to send a great Army to Cada- 
rackui Fort, to begin a War which must be 
fatal to them. He would be sorry that this 
Fort, that was the Work of Peace, sliould 
become the Prison of your Warriors. We 
must endeavour, on both Sides, to prevent 
such Misfortunes. The French, who are the 
Brethren and Friends of the Five Nations, 
Vol. I.— 5 6r, 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

will never trouble their Repose, provided 
that the Satisfaction which 1 demand be 
given, and that the Treaties of Peace be here- 
after observed. I shall be extreamly grieved 
if my Words do not produce the Effect which 
I expect from them; for then T shall be 
obliged to join with the Governor of New- 
York, who is commanded by his Master to 
assist me, and burn the Castles of the Five 
Nations, and destroy you. This Belt con- 
firms my Words." 

Garangala was very much surprised to find 
the soft Words of the Jesuit, and of the Gover- 
nor's Messengers, turned to such threatening 
Language. This was designed to strike Ter- 
ror into the Indians ; but Garangula having 
good Information from those of the Five 
Nations living near Cadarackui Fort, of all 
the Sickness and other Misfortunes which 
afflicted the French Army, it was far from 
2)roducing the designed Effect. All the 
Time that Monsieur de la Barre spoke, Gar- 
angula kept his Eyes fixed on the End of his 
Pipe ; as soon as the Governor had done 
speaking, he rose up, and having walked five 
or six times round the Circle, he returned to 
his Place, where he spoke standing, while 
Monsieur de la Barre kept his Elbow-Chair. 



66 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Garangida' s Answer. 

'^ Yonnondio, 

" I honour you, and the Warriors that are 
with me all likewise honour you. Your 
Interpreter has tinishecl your Speech; I now 
begin mine. ]My Words make haste to reach 
your Ears, hearken to them. 

" Yonnondio, you must have believed, when 
you left Quebeck, that the Sun had burnt up 
all the Forests which render our Country 
inaccessible to the French, or that the Lakes 
had so far overflown their Banks, that they 
had surrounded our Castles, and that it was 
impossible for us to get out of them. Yes, 
Yonnondio, surely you must have dreamt so, 
and the Curiosity of seeing so great a Wonder 
has brought you so far. Now you are un- 
deceived, since that I and the Warriors here 
present are come to assure you, that the 
Senekas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneydoes, 
and Mohawks are yet alive. I thank you, 
in their Name, for bringing back into their 
Country the Calumet, which your Predecessor 
received from their Hands. It was happy 
for you, that you left Underground that mur- 
dering Hatchet, that has been so often dyed 
in the Blood of the French. Hear, Yon- 
nondio, I do not sleep, I have my Eyes open, 
and the Sun, which enlightens me, discovers 
to me a great Captain at the Head of a Com- 
67 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

pany of Soldiers, who speaks as if lie were 
dreaming. He says, that he only came to 
the Lake to smoke on the great Calumet with 
the Onondagas. But Garangula says, that he 
sees the contrary, that it was to knock them 
on tlie Head, if Sickness had not weakened 
the Arms of the French. 

" I see Yonnondio raving in a Camp of sick 
Men, whose Lives the great Spirit has saved, 
by inflicting this Sickness on them. Hear, 
Yonnondio, our Women had taken their 
Clubs, our Children and old ]\Ien had carried 
their Bows and Arrows into the Heart of your 
Camp, if our Warriors had not disarmed 
them, and kept them back, when your Mes- 
senger, Ohguesse, came to our Castles. It is 
done, and I have said it. Hear, Y^onnondio, 
we plundered none of the French, but those 
that carried Guns, Powder, and Ball to the 
Iwikties and Chictaghicks, because those 
Arms might have cost us our Lives. Herein 
we follow the Example of the Jesuits, who 
stave all the Caggs of Rum brought to our 
Castles, lest the drunken Indians should 
knock them on the Head. Our Warriors 
have not Be vers enough to pay for all these 
Arms, that they have taken, and our old Men 
are not afraid of the War. This Belt pre- 
serves my Words. 

"We carried the English into our Lakes, 
to trade there with the Utawawas and Quatog- 
68 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

hies, as the Adiroiidacks brought the French 
to our Castles, to carry on a Trade which the 
English say is theirs. We are born free, 
we neither depend on Yonnondio nor Corlear. 

" We may go where we please, and carry 
with us whom we please, and buy and sell 
what we please : If your Allies be your 
Slaves, use them as such, command them to 
receive no other but your People". This Belt 
preserves my Words. 

" We knock' d the Twihtwies and Chictag- 
hicks on the Head, because they had cut 
down the Trees of Peace, which were the 
Limits of our Countr}^ They have hunted 
Bevers on our Lands : They have acted con- 
trary to the Customs of all Indians; for they 
left none of the Bevers alive, they killed both 
Male and Female. They brought the Satanas * 
into their Country, to take Part with them, 
after they had concerted ill Designs against 
us. We have done less than either the Eng- 
lish or French, that have usurped the Lands 
of so many Indian Nations, and chased them 
from their own Country. This Belt preserves 
my Words. Hear, Yonnondio, what I say is 
the Voice of all the Five Nations ; hear what 
they answer, open your Ears to what they 
speak: The Senekas, Cayugas, Onondagas, 
Oneydoes, and Mohawks say, that when they 
buried the Hatchet at Cadarackui (in the 
* Called Sawanons by the French. 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Presence of your Predecessor) in the Middle 
of the Fort, they planted the Tree of Peace 
in the same Place, to be there carefully pre- 
served, that, in Place of a Retreat for Sol- 
diers, that Fort might be a Rendezvous for 
Merchants; that, in Place of Arms and Am- 
munition of War, Bevers and Merchandise 
should only enter there. 

"Hear, Yonnondio, take Care for the 
future, that so great a Number of Soldiers, 
as appear there, do not choak the Tree of 
Peace planted in so small a Fort. It will be 
a great Loss, if after it had so easily taken 
Root, you should stop its Growth, and pre- 
vent its covering your Country and ours with 
its Branches. I assure you, in the Name of 
the Five Nations, that our Warriors shall 
dance to the Calumet of Peace under its 
Leaves, and shall remain quiet on their Matts, 
and shall never dig up the Hatchet, till their 
Brethren, Yonnondi or Corlear, shall either 
jointly or separately endeavour to attack the 
Country, which the great Spirit has given to 
our Ancestors. This Belt preserves my 
Words, and this other, the Authority which 
the Five Nations has given me." 

Then Garangula addressing himself to Mon- 
sieur le Maine, said : 

" Take Courage, Ohguesse, you have Spirit, 
speak, explain my Words, forget nothing, tell 
all that your Brethren and Friends say to 
70 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, «fec. 

Yonnondio, your Governor, by tlie Mouth of 
Garangula, who loves you, and desires you 
to accept of this Present of Bever, and take 
Part with me in my Feast, to which I invite 
you. This Present of Bever is sent to Yon- 
nondio on the Part of the Five Nations." 

When Garangula' s Harangue was explained 
to Monsieur de la Barre, he returned to his 
Tent, much inraged at what he had heard. 

Garangula feasted the French Officers, and 
then went Home, and ^lonsieur de la Barre 
set out in his Way towards ISIonreal ; and as 
soon as the General was imbarked, with the 
few Soldiers that remained in Health, the 
Militia made the best of their Way to their 
own Habitations, without any Order or Dis- 
cipline. 

Thus a very chargeable and fatiguing Ex- 
pedition (which was to strike the Terror of 
the French Name into the stubborn Hearts 
of the Five Nations) ended in a Scold be- 
tween the French General and an old Indian. 



71 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



CHAP. V. 

The English attempt to trade in the Lakes, 
and the French attack the Senakas. 

THE Marquis de Nonville having now suc- 
ceeded Monsieur de la Barre, in the 
Year 1685, and having brought a considerable 
Reinforcement of Soldiers with him, resolved 
to recover the Honour the French had lost in 
the last Expedition, and revenge the Slaugh- 
ter the Five Nations continued to make of the 
Twihtwies and Chictaghicks, who had put 
themselves under the French Protection; for 
the Five Nations having intirely subdued the 
Chictaghicks,* after a six Years War, they 
resolved next to fall upon the Twihtwies, and 
to call them to an Account for the Disturb- 
ance they had give some of their People in 
their Bever Hunting. The Five Nations 
have few or no Bever in their own Country, 
and for that Reason are obliged to hunt at a 
great Distance, which often occasions Dis- 
putes with their Neighbours about the Prop- 
erty of the Bever. The Bever is the most 
valuable Branch of the Indian Trade, and 
as the Twihtwies carried their Bevers to the 

* Called Illinois by the French. 

73 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &e. 

French, the English encouraged the Five 
Nations in these Expeditions, and particu- 
larly, in the Begining of the Year 1687, made 
the Five Nations a Present of a Barrel of 
Powder, when their whole Force was pre- 
paring to go against the Twilitwies. The 
English were the better pleased with this 
War, because they thought that it would di- 
vert the Five Nations from the Virginia In- 
dians : But the French were resolved to sup- 
port their Friends more effectually by a 
powerful Diversion, and to change the Seat 
of the War. 

For this Purpose Mr. de Nonville sent, in 
May 1687, great Quantities of Provision to 
Cadarackui Fort, and gathered the whole 
Force of Canada to Montreal. His Army 
consisted of fifteen hundred French of the 
regular Troops and Militia, and five hundred 
Indians that lived near Montreal and Que- 
beck. He sent likewise Orders to the Com- 
mandant at Missilimakinak to assemble all 
the Nations living round him, and to march 
them to Oniagara, in order to join the Forces 
of Canada designed against the Senekas, and 
the other Officers posted among the Indians 
Westward had the like Orders. 

The Twihtwies received the Hatchet with 

Joy from the Hands of the French Officer. 

The Outagamies, Kikabous, and Maskuticks, 

who were not used to Canoes, were at first 

73 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

persuaded to join the Twihtwies, who were 
to march by Land to Teuchsagrondie, where 
there was a French Fort, at w^hich they were 
to be supplied with Ammunition. But after 
the French Officer left them, the Utagamies 
and Maskuticks were dissuaded by some of 
the Mahikander Indians, who happened to be 
with a neighbouring Nation at that Time. 

The Putewatemies, Malhominies, and 
Puans offered themselves willingly, and went 
to the Rendezvous at Missilimakinak ; Avhere 
they were received by the Utawawas with all 
the Marks of Honour usually paid to Sol- 
diers. Though the Utawawas had no Inclina- 
tion to the present Enterprize; they could 
not tell however how to appear against it, 
otherwise than by inventing what Delays they 
could, to prevent their March. 

In the mean while a Canoe arrived, which 
was sent by Mr. de Nonville, with his Orders 
to the Officers. This Canoe, in her Passage, 
discovered some English, commanded by 
Major Mac Gergory, in their Way to Teiodon- 
deraghie. The English thought (after they 
had an Account of the new Alliance their 
King had entered into with the French) that 
the French would not disturb them in prose- 
cuting a Trade with the Indians every where, 
and that the Trade would be equally free and 
open to both Nations. With these Hopes a 
considerable Number of Adventurers went 
74 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

out, under the Conduct of Major Mac Gerg- 
ory, to trade with the Indians that lived on 
the Banks of the Lakes ; and that they might 
be the more welcome, persuaded the Five 
Nations to set all the Dionondadie Prisoners 
at Liberty, who went along with the Eng- 
lish, and conducted them towards Missili- 
makinak, or Teiodonderaghie ; but the Eng- 
lish found themselves mistaken, for the 
French Commandant at Teiodonderaghie, as 
soon as he had Notice of this, sent three- 
hundred French to intercept the English. 

The Utawawas * and Dionondadies having 
likewise an Account of the English, designed 
to support their own Independency, and to 
incourage the English Trade. The return 
of the Dionondadie Prisoners made that Na- 
tion very hearty in favouring the English, 
they therefore marched immediately off, with 
Design to join Major Mac Gergory; but the 
Utawawas were divided in their Inclinations, 
their Chief, with about thirty more, joined 
the French, the rest remained in suspence, 
and stood neuter. 

The Utawawas thus wavering, disconcerted 
the Measures of the Dionondadies, for they 
began to suspect the Utawawas, and therefore 
immediately returned to secure their Wives 
and Children that they had left near the 

* History de la Amerlque Septentnonale, par Mr. 
de la Poterie, Tome 11. Cap. 16. 
75 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

French Fort with the Utawawas. The Eng- 
lish and their Effects were seized without any 
Opijosition, and were carried to the French 
Fort at Teiodonderaghie. 

The English brought great Quantities of 
Kum. with them, (which the Indians love 
more than their Lives) and the French being 
afraid, that if the Indians took to Drinking, 
they would grown ungovernable, did what 
they could to keep them from it. They were 
most concerned that the Putewatemies (who 
had no Knowledge of the English, or of that 
bewitching Liquor, and were firmly attached 
to the French) should not taste it. 

The Utawawas still contrived Delays to the 
March, and having got some of the Pute- 
watemies privately by themselves, they of- 
fered them a Cag of Eum, and said : " We 
are all Brethren, we ought to make one Body, 
and to have one Soul. The French invite us 
to war against the Five Nations, with Design 
to make us Slaves, and that we should make 
ourselves the Tools to effect it. As soon as 
they shall have destroyed the Five Nations, 
they will no longer observe any Measures 
with us, but use us like those Beasts they tie 
to their Ploughs. Let us leave them to them- 
selves, and they will never be able to 
accomplish any Thing against the Five 
Nations." 

But the Putewatemies had entertained such 
76 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Notions of the French, as made them deaf to 
the Politicks of the Utawawas. 

The French however grew jealous of these 
Caballings, and therefore resolved to delay 
their March no longer, and would not stay 
one Day more for the Utawawas, who desired 
only so much Time to pitch their Canoes, and 
went away without them. 

Mr. Tonti, Commandant among the Chic- 
taghicks, met with another Party of the Eng- 
lish of about thirty Men, in Lake Erie, as he 
marched with the Chicktaghicks and Twiht- 
wies, and other neighbouring Nations, to the 
general Rendezvous. He fell upon the Eng- 
lish, plundered them, and took them Prison- 
ers. The French divided all the Merchan- 
dize among the Indians, but kept the Rum to 
themselves, and got all drunk. The Deonon- 
dadie Prisoners, that conducted the English, 
joined with the Mihikander Indians that were 
among Mr. Tonti' s Indians (who had pri- 
vately dissuaded about twenty of the neigh- 
bouring Nations from going with Tonti) and 
endeavoured to persuade all the Indians to 
fall upon the French, while they were drunk, 
and destroy them ; saying, the French are a 
proud, imperious, covetous People, that sell 
their Goods at an extravagant Price ; the 
English are a good natured honest People, 
and will furnish you with every Thing at 
reasonable Rates. But these Arguments 
77 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

were to no Purpose, for these far Indians had 
entertained an extraordinary Opinion of the 
French Power, and knew nothing of the Eng- 
lish. 

The French and Putewatemies being gone 
from Teiodonderaghie, the Utawawas began 
to be afraid of the French Resentment, and 
therefore, the better to keep up the Colour 
they had i^ut on their Delays, marched over 
Land, with all possible Expedition, to the 
general Rendezvous near Oniagara, where 
all the French Force, both Christians and 
Indians, was to meet. 

The Five ISiations behig informed of the 
French Preparations, laid aside their Design 
against the Twihtwies, and prepared to give 
the French a warm Reception. Upon this the 
Priest at Onondaga left them, but the Priest 
at Oneydo had the Courage to stay. The 
Senel^s came to Albany to provide Ammuni- 
tion, and the Commissioners made them a 
Present of a considerable Quantity of Powder 
and Lead, besides what they purchased. 
They were under a great deal of Concern 
when they took Leave of the Commissioners, 
and said, " Since we are to expect no other 
Assistance from our Brethren, we must rec- 
ommend our Wives and Children to you, 
who will fly to you, if any Misfortune shall 
happen to us. It may be we shall never see 
you again ; for we are resolved to behave so, 
78 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

as our Brethren shall have no Reason to be 
ashamed of us." 

We must now return to Monsieur de Non- 
ville's Army. 

Monsieur Campagnie marched eight or ten 
Days before the rest of the Army, with be- 
tween two and three hundred Cannadians. 
As soon as they arrived at Cadarackui, they 
surprised two V^illages of the Five Nations, 
that were settled about eight Leagues from 
that Place, to prevent their giving any Intel- 
ligence to their own Nation of the French 
Preparations, or of the State of their Army, 
as it was supposed they did in the last Expe- 
dition under Monsieur de la Barre. These 
People were surprised when they least ex- 
pected it, and by them from whom they feared 
no Harm, because they had settled there at 
the Invitation, and on the Faith of the 
French. They were carried in cold Blood to 
the Fort, and tied to Stakes, to be tormented 
by the French Indians, (Christians, as they 
call them) while they continued singing in 
their country Manner, and upbraiding the 
French with their Perfidy and Ingratitude. 

While Monsieur de Nonville was at Cada- 
rackui Fort, he had an Account, that the 
Chicktaghicks and Twihtwies waited for the 
Quatoghies and Utawawasat Lake St. Clair,* 

* In the Straights between Lake Erie and Quatog- 
hie Lake. 

79 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

with whom they designed to march to the 
general Rendezvous, at the Mouth of the 
Senekas River. For this Expedition was 
chiefly designed against the Senekas, who 
had absolutely refused to meet Monsieur de 
la Barre, and were most firmly attached to the 
English. The Senekas, for this Reason, were 
designed to be made Examples of the French 
Resentment to all the other Nations of In- 
dians. 

The Messenger having assured the Gen- 
eral, that it was Time to depart, in order to 
meet with the western Indians, that came to 
his Assistance, he set out the twenty-third of 
June, and sent one Part of his Army in 
Canoes, along the North Shore of the Lake, 
while he, with the other Part, passed along 
the South, that no Accidents of Wind might 
prevent the one or the other reaching, within 
the Time appointed, at the Place the Indians 
were to meet him. It happened, by reason 
of the good Weather, that both arrived on 
the same Day, and joined the western In- 
dians at Trondequat. As soon as the Men 
were put on Shore, they hawled up the 
Canoes, and began a Port, where four hun- 
dred Men were left to guard the Canoes, and 
the Baggage. Here a young Cannadian was 
shot to Death, as a Deserter, for conducting 
the English into the Lakes, though the two 
Nations were not only at Peace, but their 
80 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Kings in stricter Friendship than usual. But 
this Piece of Severity is not to be wondered 
at, when this War was undertaken, chiefly to 
put a Stop to the English Trade, which now 
began to extend itself far into the Continent, 
and would in its Consequence ruin theirs. 
The next Day the Army began to march 
towards the chief Village of the Senekas, 
which was only seven Leagues distant, every 
Man carrying ten Biskets for his Provision. 
The Indian Traders made the Van with Part 
of the Indians, the other Part marched in the 
Bear, while the regular Troops and Militia 
composed the main Body. The Army marched 
four Leagues the first Day without discover- 
ing any Thing ; the next Day the Scouts ad- 
vanced before the Army, as far as the Corn 
of the Villages without seeing any Body, 
though they passed within Pistol-shot of five 
hundred Senekas, that lay on their Bellies, 
and let them pass and repass without disturb- 
ing them. 

On the Beport which they made, the French 
hastened their March, in hopes to overtake 
the Women, Children, and old Men ; for they 
no longer doubted of all being fled. But as 
soon as the French reached the Foot of a 
Hill, about a Quarter of a League from the 
Village, the Senekas suddenly raised the War- 
shout, with a Discharge of their Fire-arms. 
This put the regular Troops, as well as the 
Vol. I.— 6 81 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Militia, into such a Fright, as tliey marched 
througli the Woods, that the Battalions ini- 
mediately divided, and run to the Eight and 
Left, and, in the Confusion, fired upon one 
another. Wlien the Senekas perceived their 
Disorder, they fell in among them pell-mell, 
till the French Indians, more used to such 
Way of fighting, gathered together and re- 
pulsed the Senekas. There were (according 
to the French Accounts) a hundred French- 
men, ten French Indians, and about fourscore 
Senekas killed, in this Eencounter. 

Monsieur de Nonville was so dispirited with 
the Fright that his Men had been put into, 
that his Indians could not persuade him to 
pursue. He halted the remainder of that 
Day. The next Day he marched on with 
Design to burn the Village, but when he came 
there, he found that the Senekas had saved 
him the Trouble; for they had laid all in 
Ashes before they retired. Two old Men 
only were found in the Castle, who were cut 
into Pieces and boiled to make Soup for the 
French Allies. The French staid five or six 
Days to destroy their Corn, and then marched 
to two other Villages, at two or three Leagues 
distance. After they had performed the like 
Exploits in those Places, they returned to the 
Banks of the Lake. 

Before the French left the Lakes, they 
built a Fort of four Bastions at Oniagara, on 
S3 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the South-side of the Straights, between Lake 
Erie and Cadarackui Lake, and left a hundred 
Men, with eight Months Provisions in it. 
lUit this Garison was so closely blocked up 
by the Five Nations, that they all died of 
Hunger, except seven or eight, who were ac- 
cidentaly relieved by a Party of French In- 
dians. 

The western Indians, when they parted 
from the French General, made their Haran- 
gues, as usual, in which they told him, with 
what Pleasure they saw a Fort so well placed 
to favour their Designs against the Five Na- 
tions, and that they relied on his never fin- 
ishing the War, but with the Destruction of 
the Five Nations, or forcing them to abandon 
their Country. He assured them, that he 
would act with such Vigour, that they would 
soon see the Five Nations driven into the 
Sea. 

He sent a Detachment of Soldiers to Teio- 
donderaghie, and in his Eeturn to Canada, 
which was by the North Side of the Lake, he 
left a sufficient Number of Men, and a Quan- 
tity of Provisions, at Cadarackui Fort. 

The French having got nothing but dry 
Blows by this Expedition, sent thirteen of 
the Indians, that they surprised at Cada- 
rackui, to France, as Trophies of their Vic- 
tory, where they were put into the Galleys, 
as Kebels to their King. 
83 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



CHAP. VI. 

Colonel Dongan^s Advice to the Indians. 
Adario^s Enteiyrize, and Montreal sacked by 
the Five Nations. 

COLONEL DONGAN, who had the In- 
dian Affairs very much at Heart, met 
the Five Nations at Albany as soon as possi- 
ble after the French Expedition, and spoke 
to them on the fifth of August, in the follow- 
ing Words, viz. 

" Brethren, 

" I am very glad to see you here in this 
House, and am heartily glad that you have 
sustained no greater Loss by the French, 
though I believe it was their Intention to 
destroy you all, if they could have surprised 
you in your Castles. 

" As soon as I heard their Design to war 
with you, I gave you Notice, and came up 
hither myself, that I might be ready to give 
all the Assistance and Advice that so short a 
Time would allow me. 

"I am now about sending a Gentleman to 
England, to the King, my Master, to let him 
know, that the French have invaded his Ter- 
ritories on this Side of the great Lake, and 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

warred upon the Brethren his Subjects. I 
therefore would willingly know, whether the 
Brethren have given the Governor of Canada 
any Provocation or not; and if they have, 
how, and in what Manner; because I am 
obliged to give a true Account of this Matter. 
This Business may cause a War between the 
King of England and the French King, both 
in Europe and here, and therefore I must 
know the Truth. 

"I know the Governor of Canada dare not 
enter into the King of England's Territories, 
in a hostile Manner, without Provocation, if 
he thought the Brethren were the King of 
England's Subjects; but you have, two or 
three Years ago, made a Covenant-chain with 
the French, contrary to my Command, (which 
I knew could not hold long) being void of 
itself among the Christians ; for as much as 
Subjects (as you are) ought not to treat with 
any foreign Nation, it not lying in your 
Power, you have brought this Trouble on 
yourselves, and, as I believe, this is the only 
Reason of their falling on you at this Time. 

"Brethren, I took it very ill, that after 
you had put yourselves into the Number of 
the great King of England's Subjects, you 
should ever offer to make Peace or War with- 
out my Consent. You know that we can live 
without you, but you cannot live without us. 
You never found that I told you a Lye, and 
85 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

I offered you the Assistance you wanted, pro- 
vided that you would be advised by me ; for 
I know the French better than any of you do. 

" Now since there is a War begun upon you 
by the Governor of Canada, I hope without 
any Provocation by you given, I desire and 
command you, that you hearken to no Treaty 
but by my Advice ; which if you follow, you 
shall have the Benefit of the great Chain of 
Friendship between the great King of Eng- 
land and the King of France, which came 
out of England the other Day, and which I 
have sent to Canada by Anthony le Junard. 
In the mean Time, I will give you such Ad- 
vice as will be for your good ; and will sup- 
ply you with such Necessaries as you will 
have Need of. 

" First, My Advice is, as to what Prison- 
ers of the French you shall take, that you 
draw not their Blood, but bring them Home, 
and keep them to exchange for your People, 
which they have Prisoners already, or may 
take hereafter. 

" 2clhj, That if it be possible, that you can 
order it so, I would have you take one or two 
of your wisest Sachems, and one or two of 
your chief Captains, of each Nation, to be a 
Council to manage all Affairs of the War. 
They to give Orders to the rest of the Officers 
what they are to do, that your Designs may 
be kept private ; for after it comes among so 
86 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS. &c. 

many People, it is blazed abroad, and your 
Designs are often frustrated; and those chief 
Men should keejj a Correspondence with me 
by a trusty Messenger. 

" Mly, The great Matter under Considera- 
tion with the Brethren is, how to strengthen 
themselves, and weaken their Enemy. My 
Opinion is, that the Brethren should send 
Messengers to the Utawawas, Twihtwies, and 
the farther Indians, and to send back like- 
wise some of the Prisoners of these Nations, 
if you have any left, to bury the Hatchet, 
and to make a Covenant-chain, tliat they may 
put away all the French that are among them, 
and that you will open a Path for them this 
Way, they being the King of England's Sub- 
jects likewise, tho' the French have been ad- 
mitted to trade with them ; for all that the 
French have in Canada, they had it of the 
great King of England; that by that Means 
they may come hither freely, where they may 
have every Thing cheaper than among the 
French: That you and they may join together 
against the French, and make so firm a 
League, that whoever is an Enemy to one, 
must be to both. 

" Stilly, Another Thing of Concern is, that 
you ought to do what you can to open a Path 
for all the North Indians and Mahikanders, 
that are among the Utawawas and further 
Nations : I will endeavour to do the same to 
87 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

bring them Home ; for, they are not daring 
to return Home your Way, the French keep 
them there on purpose to join with the other 
Nations against you, for your Destruction; 
for you know that one of them is worse than 
six of the others ; therefore all Means must 
be used to bring them Home, and use them 
kindly as they pass through your Country. 

" bthly, My Advice further is, that Messen- 
gers go, in behalf of all the Five Nations, to 
the Christian Indians at Canada, to persuade 
them to come Home to their native Country. 
This will be another great Means to weaken 
your Enemy ; but if they will not be advised, 
you know what to do with them. 

" Qthly, I think it very necessary, for the 
Brethren's Security and Assistance, and to 
the endamaging the French, to build a Fort 
upon the Lake, where I may keep Stores and 
Provisions, in Case of Necessity; and there- 
fore I would have the Brethren let me know 
what Place will be most convenient for it. 

" Ithhj, I would not have the Brethren 
keep their Corn in their Castles, as I hear 
the Onondagas do, but bury it a great Way 
in the Woods, where few People may know 
where it is, for fear of such an Accident as 
has happened to the Senekas. 

" Sthli/, I have given my Advice in your 
General Assembly by Mr. Dirk Wessels, and 
Akus the Interpreter, how you are to manage 
88 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

your Parties, and how necessary it is to get 
Prisoners, to exchange for your own Men 
that are Prisoners with the French ; and I am 
glad to hear that the Brethren are so united, 
as Mr. Dirk Wessels tells me you are, and 
that there are no rotten Members nor French 
Spies among you. 

"9thlt/y The Brethren may remember my 
Advice, which I sent you this Spring, not to 
go to Cadarackui; if you had, they would 
have served you as they did your People that 
came from hunting thither ; for I told you 
then, that I knew the French better than you 
did. 

" 10 fill I/, There was no Advice or Proposi- 
tion that I made to the Brethren, all the 
Time that the Priest lived at Onondaga, but 
what he wrote to Canada, as I found by one 
of his Letters, which he gave to an Indian to 
carry to Canada, but which was brought 
hither ; therefore I desire the Brethren not to 
receive him or any French Priest any more, 
having sent for English Priests, with whom 
you may be supplied to your Content. 

" llthlij, I would have the Brethren look 
out sharp, for Fear of being surprized. I be- 
lieve all the Strength of the French will be 
at their Frontier Places, viz., at Cadarackui 
and Oniagara, where they have built a Fort 
now, and at Troies Kivieres, Montreal, and 
Chambly. 

89 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

" 12thly, Let me put you in Mind again, 
not to make any Treaties without my Means, 
which will be more advantageous for you, 
than your doing it by yourselves, for then 
you will be looked upon as the King of Eng- 
land's Subjects, and let me know, from Time 
to Time, every Thing that is done. 

" Thus far I have spoken to you relating to 
the War." 

Then he chid them for their Breach of 
Faith with Virginia. He told them, that he 
was informed, that last Spring they had 
killed a fine Gentleman, with some others; 
and that a Party of the Oneydoes was now 
there at the Head of James River, with In- 
tention to destroy all the Indians thereabout. 
They had taken six Prisoners, whom he or- 
dered them to bring to him, to be restored ; 
and that for the future they should desist 
from doing any Injury to the People of Vir- 
ginia, or their Indians, otherwise all the Eng- 
lish would unite to destroy them. But at 
the same time he freed the Senekas from any 
Blame, and commended them as a brave and 
honest People, who never had done any 
Thing contrary to his Orders, except in mak- 
ing that unlucky Peace with the French, 
three Years ago. 

Lastly, He recommended to them, not to 
suffer their People to be drunk during the 
War : A Soldier thereby (he said) loses his 
90 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Reputation, because of the Advantages it will 
give the Enemy over him. 

This honest Gentleman earnestly pursued 
the Interest of his Country ; but it seems his 
Measures were not agreeable to those his 
Master had taken with the French King ; for 
he had Orders to procure a Peace for the 
French on their own Terms, and was soon 
after this removed from his Government. 
Indeed such an active, as well as prudent 
Governor of New-York, could not be accep- 
table to the French, who had the universal 
Monarchy in View, in America as well as in 
Europe. 

The great Dispute between Coll. Dungan 
and the French was in this, that Coll. Dun- 
gan would force the French to apply to him, 
in all Affairs relating to the Five Nations, 
and the French would treat with them inde- 
pendently of the English. For this Reason 
Coll. Dungan refused any Assistance to the 
French, till they, by such Application, should 
acknowledge the Dependance of the Five Na- 
tions on the Crown of England. But King 
James ordered him to give up this Point ; and 
that he should persuade the Five Nations to 
send to Canada, to receive Proposals from 
the French Governor ; and for this Purpose, 
forced them to agree to a Cessation of Arms, 
till their Deputies should go and return from 
Canada ; and that they should, in the mean 
91 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Time, deliver up all 'the Prisoners they had 
taken from the French ; and that no Accident 
might prevent this, and blast so favourable 
an Opportunity of making Peace to the best 
Advantage, Monsr. De Nonville sent his Or- 
ders to all his Otticers in the Indian Countries, 
to observe a Cessation of Arms, till the Am- 
bassador of the Five Nations should meet 
him at Montreal, as they had given him Eea- 
son to expect they would in a little Time, to 
conclude the Peace in the usual Form. 

In the mean Time, Adario, the Chief of 
the Deonondadies, finding that his Nation 
was become suspected by the French, since 
the Time they had shewn so much Inclination 
to the English, when thej attempted to trade 
at Missilimakinak, resolved, by some notable 
Action against the Five Nations, to recover 
the good Graces of the French. 

For this Purpose, he marched from Missil- 
imakinak, at the Head of a Hundred Men ; 
and that he might act with the more Security, 
he took Cadarackui Fort in his Way for Intel- 
ligence: The Commandant informed him, 
that Monsr. De Nonville was in Hopes of con- 
cluding a Peace with the Five Nations, and 
expected their Ambassadors in eight or ten 
Days at Montreal for that Purpose, and there- 
fore desired him to return to Missilimakinak, 
without attempting any Thing that might ob- 
struct so good a Design. 
92 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

The Indian being surprised witli this News, 
was under great Concern for his Nation, 
which he was afraid Avould be sacrificed to 
the French Interest, but dissembled his Con- 
cern before the French Officer. He went 
from Cadarackui, not to return home as the 
Commandant thought, but to wait for tlie 
Ambassadors of the Five Nations, near one 
of the Falls of Cadarackui Kiver, by which 
he knew they must pass. He did not lurk 
there above four or five Days, before the 
Deputies came guarded by forty young Sol- 
diers, who Avere all surprised, and killed or 
taken Prisoners. As soon as the Prisoners 
were all secured, the cunning Deonondadi 
told them, "That he having been informed, 
by the Governor of Canada, that fifty War- 
riors of their Nation were to pass this Way 
about this Time, he had secured this Pass, 
not d oubting of intercepting them . " 

The Ambassadors being much surprised at 
the French Perfidy, told Adario the Design 
of their Journey, who, the better to play his 
Part, seemed to grow mad and furious, de- 
claring against Monsr. DeNonville, and said 
he would, some time or other, be revenged of 
him, for making a Tool of him, to commit 
such horrid Treachery. Then looking sted- 
fastly on the Prisoners (among whom Deka- 
nefora was the principal Ambassador) Adario 
said to them. Go, my Brethren, I unty your 
93 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Bonds, and send you home again, tho' our 
Nations be at War: The French Governor 
has made me commit so black an Action, that 
I shall never be easy after it, till the Five 
Nations shall have taken full Eevenge. 

This was sufficient to persuade the Ambas- 
sadors of the Truth of what he said, who 
assured him, that he and his Nation might 
make their Peace when they pleased. Adario 
lost only one Man on this Occasion, and 
would keep a Satana Prisoner (adopted into 
the Five Nations) to fill up his Place. Then 
he gave Arms, Powder and Ball to the rest of 
the Prisoners, to enable them to return. 

The Ambassadors were chiefly, if not all, 
Onondagas, and Oneydoes, who had been 
long under the Influence of the French 
Priests, and still retained an Affection to 
them ; but this Adventure thoroughly changed 
their Thoughts, and irritated them so heartily 
against the French, that all the Five Nations 
prosecuted the War unanimously. 

Adario delivered the Slave (his Prisoner) 
to the French at Missilimakinak, who to keep 
up the Enmity between the Deonondadies 
and the Five Nations, ordered him to be shot 
to Death. Adario called one of the Five 
Nations, who had been long a Prisoner, to 
be an Eye Witness of his Countryman's 
Death, then bid him make his Escape to his 
own Country, to give an Account of the 
94 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

French Cruelty, from wliicli it was not in his 
Power to save a Prisoner, he himself had 
taken. 

This heightned the Kage of the Five Na- 
tions so, that Monsr. De Nonville's sending 
to disown Adario in this Action, had no 
Effect upon them ; their Breasts admitted of 
no Thoughts but that of Eevenge. It was 
not long before the French felt the bloody 
Effects of this cruel Passion, for 1200 Men 
of the Five Nations invaded the Island of 
Montreal, when the French had no Suspicion 
of any such Attempt, while Monsr. De Non- 
ville and his Lady were in that Town. They 
landed on the South Side of the Island, at 
La Chine, on the 26th of July 1688, where 
they burnt and sacked all the Plantations, 
and made a terrible Massacre of Men, Wom- 
en, and Children. The French were under 
Apprehension of the Town's being attack' d, 
for which Reason, they durst not send out 
any considerable Party to the Relief of the 
Country, only once, when the Indians had 
blocked up two Forts, Monsr. De Nonville 
sent out a hundred Soldiers, and fifty In- 
dians, to try to bring off the Men in those 
Forts. The French of this Party were all 
either taken or cut to Pieces, except one Sol- 
dier, and the commanding Officer, who, after 
he had his Thighs broke, was carried off 
by twelve Indians that made their Escape. 
95 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

There were above a Thousand of the French 
killed at this Time, and twenty-six were car- 
ried away Prisoners, the greatest Part of 
which were burnt alive. The Five Nations 
only lost three Men on this Expedition, that 
got drunk and were left behind. This, how- 
ever, did not satiate their Thirst after Blood, 
for, in October following, they destroyed 
likewise all the lower Part of the Island, and 
carried away many Prisoners. 

The Consequence of these Expeditions 
were very dismal to the French, for they 
were forced to burn their two Barks, which 
tliey had on Cadarackui Lake, and to abandon 
their Fort there; they designed to have 
l)lo\vn up their Works, when they left that 
Place ; and for that End left a lighted Match 
where the Powder lay, but were in such a 
Fright, that they durst not stay to see what 
Effect it had. They went down Cadarackui 
River in seven Birch Canoes ; and for greater 
Security, travelled in the Night. One of the 
Canoes, with all the Men in it, were lost, by 
their Precipitatiouj as they passed one of the 
Falls in that River. The Five Nations hear- 
ing the French had deserted Cadarackui Fort, 
fifty Indians went and took Possession of it, 
who found the Match the French had left, 
which had gone out, and twenty eight Bar- 
rels of Powder in the same Place, together 
with several other Stores. 
96 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

The News of the Success the Five Nations 
had over the French soon spread itself among 
all the Indians, and put the French Affairs 
every where into the greatest Disorder. 

The Utawawas had always shewn an Incli- 
nation to the English, and they therefore im- 
mediately sent openly four Sachems, with 
three Prisoners of the Senekas, which they 
had, to assure them, that they would for ever 
renounce all Friendship M^th the French, and 
promised to restore the rest of the Prisoners. 
They also included seven Nations, that lived 
near Missilimakinak, in this Peace. 

This put the French Commandant there 
under the greatest Difficulty to maintain his 
Post; but there was no Choice, he must 
stand his Ground, for the Five Nations had 
cut off all Hopes of retiring. 

The Nepairinians and Kikabous, of all 
their numerous Allies, only remained firm to 
the French; every one of the others endeav^- 
oured to gain the Friendship of the Five Na- 
tions ; and would certainly have done it, by 
murdering all the French among them, had 
not the Sieur Perot, with wonderful Sagacity 
and eminent Hazard to his own Person, di- 
verted them. 

Canada was now in a most miserable Con- 
dition, for while the greatest Number of their 
Men had been employed in the Expedition 
against the Five Nations, and in trading 
Vol. I.— 7 97 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

among the far Nations, and making new Dis- 
coveries and Settlements, Tillage and Hus- 
bandry had been neglected; and they lost 
several Thousands of their Inhabitants, by 
the continual Incursions of small Parties, so 
that none durst hazard themselves out of for- 
tified Places; indeed, it is hard to conceive 
what Distress the French were then under, for 
tho' they were every where almost starving, 
they could not phmt nor sow, or go from one 
Village to another for Relief, but with immi- 
nent Danger of having their Scalps carried 
away by the sculking Indians; at last the 
whole Country being laid waste. Famine be- 
gan to rage, and was like to have put a mis- 
erable End to that Colony. 

If the Indians had understood the Method 
of attacking Forts, nothing could have pre- 
served the French from an entire Destruction 
at this Time ; for whoever considers the State 
of the Indian Affairs during this Period, how 
the Five Nations were divided in their Senti- 
ments and Measures; that the Onondagas, 
Cayugas, and Onej^does, under the Influence 
of the French Jesuites, were diverted from 
prosecuting the War against Canada, by the 
Jesuites cunningly spiriting up those three 
Nations against the Virginia Indians, and 
persuading them to send out their Parties that 
Way : That the Senekas had a War at the 
same Time upon their Hands with three nu- 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

meroiis Indian Nations, the Utawawas, 
Chicktaghicks, and Twihtwies; and that the 
Measures the English observed all King 
James's Keign, gave the Indians rather 
Grounds of Jealousy than Assistance : I say, 
whoever considers all these Things, and what 
the Five Nations did actually perform, under 
all these Disadvantages against the French, 
will hardly doubt, that the Five Nations by 
themselves were at that Time an Overmatch 
for the French of Canada. 



THE 

HISTORY 

OF THE 

FIVE Indian NATIONS 

DEPENDENT 

On the Province of NEW-YORK. 
PART II. 



101 



THE 

PREFACE 

To THE Second Part. 

THE former Part of this History was writ- 
ten at New-York in the Year 1727, on 
Occasion of a Dispute which then happened, 
between the Government of New- York and 
some Merchants. The French of Canada had 
the whole Fur Trade with the Western In- 
dians in their Hands, and were supplied with 
their woollen Goods from New-York. Mr. 
Burnet, who took more Pains to be informed 
of the Interest of the People he was set over, 
and of making them useful to their Mother 
Country, than Plantation Governors usually 
do, took the Trouble of perusing all the Reg- 
isters of the Indian Affairs on this Occasion. 
He from thence conceived of what Conse- 
quence the Fur Trade with the Western In- 
dians was of to Great-Britain; that as the 
English had the Fur Trade to Hudson's Bay 
given up to them, by the Treaty of Utrecht, 
so, by the Advantages which the Province of 
New- York has in its Situation, they might 
be able to draw the whole Fur Trade in the 
other Parts of America to themselves, and 
103 



PREFACE. 

thereby the English engross that Trade, and 
the Manufactories depending on it. 

For this Purpose he thought it necessary 
to put a Stop to the Trade between New- 
York and Canada, by which the French sup- 
plied themselves with the most valuable and 
necessary Commodities for the Indian Mar- 
ket, and to set the Inhabitants of this Prov- 
ince on trading directly with the Indians. 
Besides the Consideration of Profit and Gain, 
he considered what Influence this Trade had 
on the numerous Nations of Indians living on 
the vast Continent of North- America, and 
who surround the British Colonies ; of what 
Advantage it might be of, if they were influ- 
enced by the English in Case of a War with 
France; and how prejudicial, on the other 
Hand, if they were directed by French Coun- 
sels. 

The Legislature of New- York was soon 
convinced of the Justness of his Beasoning, 
and passed an Act, prohibiting the Trade to 
Canada, and for encouraging the Trade di- 
rectly with the Indians. They were likewise 
at the Charge of building a fortified trading 
House at Oswego, on Cadarackui Lake, and 
have ever since maintained a Garison there. 
As this Act did in its Consequence take a large 
Profit from one or two considerable Mer- 
chants, who had the Trade to Canada intirely 
in their Hands, they endeavoured to raise a 
104 



PREFACE. 

Clamour against it in the Province, and pre- 
sented likewise Petitions to the King, in Or- 
der to get the Act repealed. Upon this Oc- 
casion Mr. Burnet gave me the Perusal of the 
Publick Register of Indian Affairs, and it 
was thought the Publication of the History 
of the Five Nations might be of Use at that 
Time. 

I shall only add, that Mr. Burnet's Scheme 
has had its desired Effect : The English have 
gained the Trade which the French, before 
that, had with the Indians to the Westward 
of New- York; and whereas, before that 
Tiine, a very inconsiderable Number of Men 
were employed in the Indian Trade Abroad, 
now above three hundred Men are employed 
at the Trading House at Oswego alone ; and 
the Indian Trade has since that Time yearly 
increased so far, that several Indian Nations 
come now every Summer to trade there, 
whose Names were not so much as known by 
the English before. 

This History, from New- York, soon went 
to England, and I have been informed, that 
a Publication, with a Continuance of that 
Work, would be acceptable there. I have the 
more chearfully complied with this Notice, 
because of the War threatened from France, 
believing that a Publication of this Kind may 
be useful, whether the present Inquietudes 
between the two Nations end in a War or in 
105 



PREFACE. 

a Treaty. The French have encouraged sev- 
eral Publications of this Sort at Paris, and 
certainly such may be more useful in a Brit- 
ish Government, where the People have so 
great a Share in it, than it can be in a French 
Government, intirely directed by the Will of 
their Prince. 

I now continue this History to the Peace of 
Reswick, and if I hnd this acceptable, and 
that a farther Continuation of it be desired, 
I shall, if my Life and Health be preserved, 
carry it down farther; but as I have too 
much Reason to doubt my own Ability, to 
give that Pleasure and Satisfaction which the 
Publick may expect in Things thus submitted 
to their View, I think it not justifiable to 
trouble them with too much at once. 



106 



THE 

HISTORY 

OF THE 

Five INDIAN Nations, 

DEPENDING 

On the Province oi NEJV-TORK. 



PART II. 

The History of the Five Indian Nations of 
Canada, from the time of the Revolution to 
the Peace of Reswlck. 



CHAP. I. 

The State of Affairs in New- York and Can- 
ada, at the time of the Revolution in Great- 
Britain. 

WE left the Five Nations triumphing 
over the French in Canada, and they 
almost reduced to Despair The Kevolution, 
which happened at this Time in England, 
seemed to be a favourable Conjunction for 
the Five Nations; the English Colonies, by 
107 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the War at that Time declared against 
France, becoming Parties in their Quarrel: 
For one will be ready to think, that the Five 
Nations being by themselves too powerful 
for the French, as appears by the preceding 
Chapter, when these were assisted by the 
Utawawas, Quatoghies, Twihtwies, Chictag- 
hicks, Putewatemies, and all the Western 
Indian Nations, and when the English stood 
neuter; now certainly, when not only all 
these Indian Nations had made Peace with 
the Five Nations, bat the English joined with 
them in the War, the French would not be 
able to stand one Cami)aign. 

But we shall lind wliat a Turn Affairs took, 
contrary to all reasonable Expectations, from 
the general Appearance of Things, and of 
what Importance a resolute wise Governor 
is to the well-being of a People, and how 
prejudicial Divisions and Parties are. For 
this Eeason, it will be necessary to take a 
View of the Publick Affairs in the Province 
of New- York, and in Canada, at that Time, 
in order to understand the true Causes of the 
Alterations, which afterwards happened in 
Favour of the French. 

The Eevolution occasioned as great Divi- 
sions and Parties in the Province of New- 
York, in Proportion to the Number of Peo- 
ple, as it did in Britain, if not greater. The 
Governor and all the Officers either fled or 
108 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

absconded; the Gentlemen of the King^s 
Council, and some of the most considerable 
or richest People, either out of Love, or what 
they thought Duty, to King James, or rather 
from an Opinion they had tliat the Prince of 
Orange could not succeed, refused to join in 
the declaration the People made in favour of 
that Prince, and suffered the Administration 
to fall into different Hands, who were more 
zealous for the Protestant Interest, and who 
were joined by the far greatest Number of 
the Inhabitants. After the Revolution was 
established, they that had appeared so warmly 
for it, thought that they deserved best of the 
Government, and expected to be continued in 
the Publick Offices ; the others were zealous 
to recover the Authority they had lost, and 
used the most persuasive Means with the 
Governors for that Purpose, while the former 
trusted to their Merit. This begat great 
Animosities, which continued many Years. 
Each Party, as they were at different Times 
favoured by several Governors, opposed all 
the Measures taken by the other, while each 
of them were by Turns in Credit with the 
People or the Governor, and sometimes even 
prosecuted each other to Death. The pub- 
lick Measures were by these Means perpetu- 
ally fluctuating, and often one Day contradic- 
tory to what they were the Day before. The 
succeeding Governors, finding their private 
109 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Account in favouring sometimes the one 
Party, and at other Times the other, kept up 
the Animosities all King William's Reign, 
though very much to the publick Prejudice; 
for each Party was this while so eager in 
resenting private Injuries, that they intirely 
neglected the publick Good. 

The Constitution of Government in the 
English Plantations, where the Governors 
have no Salary, but what they can attain 
with the Consent of the Assemblies or Repre- 
sentatives of the People, gave Occasion to 
imprudent Governors to fall upon these Expe- 
dients, as they sometimes call them, for get- 
ting of Money. And a prevailing Faction, 
knowing for what Purpose the Governments 
in America were chiefly desired by the Eng- 
lish Gentlemen, used this great Privilege to 
tempt a Governor to be the Head of a Party, 
when he ought to have been the Head of the 
Government. Indeed New-York has had the 
Misfortune, too frequently, to be under such 
as could not keep their Passion for Money se- 
cret, though none found it so profitable a 
Government, as they did who followed strictly 
the true Maxims of governing, without mak- 
ing Money the only Rule of their Actions. 

The frequent Changes of Governors were 

likewise prejudicial to the publick Affairs. 

Colonel Slaughter, the first Governor after 

the Revolution, happened to die soon after 

110 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

his Arrival, when steady, as well as resolute 
Measures, were most necessary. But some 
think, that the Occasion of all the Misfor- 
tunes lay in the Want of Care in the Choice, 
of Governors when the Affairs of America 
wanted able Hands to manage them; they 
think that the Ministry had the saving of 
Money chiefly in View, when, to gratify some 
small Services, they gave Employments in 
America to those that were not capable of 
much meaner Offices at Home. The Opinion 
the People had of Colonel Slaughter's Capa- 
city gave ground to these Surmises; but, if 
it was so, it happened to be very ill saved 
Money; for the Mismanagements in this 
Country occasioned far greater Expence to 
the Crown afterwards, than would, have 
bought such Gentlemen handsome Estates, 
besides the great Losses they occasioned to 
the Subjects. 

The greatest Number of the Inhabitants of 
the Province of New- York being Dutch, still 
retained an Affection to their Mother Coun- 
try, and by their Aversion to the English 
weakened the Administration. The common 
People of Albany, who are all Dutch, could 
not forbear giving the Indians some ill Im- 
pressions of the English ; for the Mohawks, 
in one of their publick Speeches, expressed 
themselves thus : " We hear a Dutch Prince 
reigns now in England, why do you suffer the 

in 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

English Soldiers to remain in the Fort? put 
all the English out of the Town. When the 
Dutch held this Country long ago, we lay in 
their Houses ; but the English have always 
made us lie without Doors." It is true, that 
the Plantations were first settled by the 
meanest People of every Nation, and such as 
had the least Sense of any Honour. The 
Dutch first Settlers, many of them I may 
say, had none of the Virtues of their Coun- 
trymen, except their Industry in getting 
Money, and they sacrificed every Thing, oth- 
er People thhik honourable or most sacred, 
to their Gain : But I do not think it proper 
to give particular Instances of this. 

The People of New-England were en- 
gaged in a bloody War at this Time with the 
Owenagungas, Ouragies, and Ponacoks, the 
Indians that lie between them and the French 
Settlements. The Scahkooks were originally 
Part of these Indians. They left their Coun- 
try about the Year 1672, and settled above 
Albany, on the Branch of Hudson's River 
that runs towards Canada. The People of 
New-England were jealous of the Scahkook 
Indians, that they remembering the old Differ- 
ence they had with the People of New-Eng- 
land, and the Relation they bore to the East- 
ern Indians, did countenance and assist these 
Indians in the War against New England. 
They had Eeason for these Jealousies, for the 
113 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Scahkook Indiaus received privately some 
Owenagimga jMessengers, and kept their com- 
ing among them secret from the People of 
Albany ; and some Scahkooks had gone pri- 
vately to the Owenagungas. They were 
afraid likewise, that the Mohawks might 
have some Inclination to favour those In- 
dians, because some of the Eastern Indians 
had fled to the IMohawks, and were kindly 
received by them, and lived among them. 

Notwithstanding all these Failures of good 
Policy, in the Government of New-York, the 
French had not gained so great Advantages, 
if they had not carefully observed a different 
Conduct, which it is now necessary to con- 
sider. 

Canada was at this Time in a very dis- 
tressed Condition, the Country and out Plan- 
tations burnt and destroyed, their Trade 
intirely at a stand, great Numbers of their 
People slain, and the remainder in danger of 
perishing by Famine, as well as by the Sword 
of inveterate cruel Enemies. When such 
Misfortunes happen to a Country, under any 
Administration, though in Truth the Conduct 
of Affairs be not to be blamed, it is often pru- 
dent to change the Ministers ; for the com- 
mon People never fail to blame them, not- 
withstanding their having acted with the 
greatest Wisdom, and therefore cannot so 
soon recover their Spirits, that are sunk by 
Vol. L— 8 113 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Misfortunes, as by putting their Affairs into 
different Hands. 

For these Reasons, it is probable, the 
French King recalled Mr. de Nonville, but 
rewarded him for his Services, by an honour- 
able Employment in the Houshold. The 
Count de Frontenac was sent in his Place. 
This Gentleman had been formerly Governor 
of that Country, and was perfectly acquainted 
with its Interest ; of a Temper of Mind fitted 
to such desperate Times, of undaunted Cour- 
age, and indefatigable, though in the sixty- 
eighth Year of his Age. The Count de Fron- 
tenac arrived the second of October 1689. 
The Country immediately received new Life 
by the Arrival of a Person, of whose Courage 
and Conduct every one had entertained a high 
Opinion. Care was taken to increase this 
Impression on the Minds of the People, by 
making publick Rejoicings with as much 
Noise as possible. He wisely improved this 
new Life, by immediately entering upon Ac- 
tion, without suffering their Hopes to grow 
cold. He staid no longer at Quebeck, than 
was necessary to be informed of the present 
State of Affairs, and in four or five Days af- 
ter his Arrival set out in a Canoe for Mon- 
treal, where his Presence w^as most necessary ; 
and the Winter was already so far advanced, 
that the Ice made it impracticable to go in a 
larger Vessel. By this the old Gentleman 
114 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

increased the Opinion and Hopes the People 
entertained of him, that, without staying to 
refresh himself after a fatiguing Sea- Voyage, 
he would immediately undertake another, that 
required all the Vigour and Heat of Youth to 
withstand the Inclemencies of the Climate 
and Season, and the Difficulty of such a Pas- 
sage. 

When the Count de Frontenac came to 
Montreal, he increased the Admiration the 
People had of his Vigour and Zeal, by pre- 
tending to go to visit Cadarackui Fort, now 
abandoned, which he had built in the Time 
he was formerly Governor. The Clergy and 
People of Montreal came jointly with 
stretched out Arms, representing the Danger 
of such an Attempt, and the Difficulties and 
Hardships that would necessarily attend it, 
praying him not to expose a Life that was so 
necessary for their Safety. He, with seem- 
ing Reluctance, yielded to their Intreaties ; I 
say Avith seeming Eeluctance, for it was in- 
consistent with his Prudence really to have 
such a Design. This Shew of the Governor's 
offering to go in Person, animated some of the 
Gentlemen of the Country, who voluntarily 
went in the Winter, with one Hundred In- 
dian Traders, to visit that Fort ; and finding 
it in better Condition than they expected, by 
the Eeport of those who had abandoned it, 
they staid there, and made some small Repa- 

m 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

rations in the Walls, which the Indians had 
thrown down. 

The Count de Frontenac brought back 
with him Tawerahet, a Capiga Sachem, one 
of the thirteen Prisoners that Mr. de Nonville 
took at Cadarackui, and sent to France. He 
was in Hopes this Indian would be useful in 
procuring a Treaty of Peace with the Five 
Nations, for they had an extraordinary Opin- 
ion of Tawerahet ; and the Frencli had found, 
by sad Experience, that they could not be 
Gainers by continuing the War: For this 
Purpose the Count used Tawerahet with 
much Kindness, during his A^oyage, and, 
after he arrived at Quebeck, lodged him in 
the Castle under his own Eoof, and took 
such Pains with this Sachem, that he forgot 
all the ill Usage he had formerly received. 

The French had the more Reason to desire 
a Peace with the Five Nations, because they 
knew, that they would now certainly have 
the English Colonies likewise upon them ; and 
if the Five Nations had been able to do so 
much Mischief by themselves alone, they 
were much more to be feared, when they 
would be assisted, in all Probability, with the 
Force and Interest of the English Colonies. 

Four Indians of less Note, who were 

brought back along Avith Tawerahet, were 

immediately dispatched, in this Sachem's 

Name, to the Five Nations, to inform them 

116 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

of his Eetiirn, and of the kind Usage they 
had received from the Count de Frontenac; 
and to press them to send some to visit their 
old Friend, who had been so kind to them 
when he was formerly Governor of Canada, 
and who still retained an Affection to the 
Five Nations ; as appeared by the Kindness 
Tawerahet and they had received from him. 
This was the only jNIethod left to the French 
of making Proposals of Peace, which it was 
their Interest by all Means to procure. 

The Governor of Canada, as I said, con- 
ceived that there was no Way so proper to 
keep up the Spirits of the People, who had 
got new Life by his Arrival, as by putting 
them upon Action ; and indeed their present 
miserable Condition made them forward 
enough, to undertake the most desperate En- 
terprize, when the frequent Incursions of the 
Indians made it as dangerous to be at Home, 
as to attack the Enemy Abroad. 

For this Purpose he sent out three Parties 
in the Winter; one was designed against 
New-York, the other against Connecticut, and 
the last against New-England. 

The Five Nations followed Colonel Dun- 
gan's Advice, in endeavouring to bring off the 
Western Indians from the French, and had 
all the Success that could be expected, before 
Mr. de Frontenac arrived. 

They were overjoyed when they heard, that 
117 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the English had entered into War with the 
French, and came several Times to Albany to 
know the Certainty of it, while it was only 
rumoured about. The People of Albany de- 
sired them to secure any of the praying In- 
dians that should come from Canada, if they 
found that they were still ruled by the 
Priests ; but to encourage them, if they came 
with a Design to return to their own Country. 

The Senekas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and 
Oneydoes, the twenty seventh of June 1689, 
before any Governor arrived, renewed the old 
Covenant (as they said) which was first made 
many Years ago with one Tagues, who came 
with a Ship into their River. 

" Then we first became Brethren, said they, 
and continued so till last fall, that Sir Ed- 
mond Andross came and made a new Chain, 
by calling us Children ; but let us stick to the 
old Chain, which has continued from the 
first Time it was made, by which we became 
Brethren, and have ever since always behaved 
as such. Virginia, Maryland, and New- 
England, have been taken into~ this silver 
Chain, with which our Friendship is locked 
fast. We are now come to make the Chain 
clear and bright. Here they gave two Be- 
vers." 

King James, a little before his Abdication, 
sent over Sir Edmond Andross with arbitrary 
Powers, and he, in Imitation of the French, 
118 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

changed the Stile of speaking to the Indians, 
of which they were very sensible. 

They discovered a great Concern for their 
People that were carried to Canada ; they long 
hoped (they said) that the King of England 
would have been powerful enough to deliver 
them, but now they began to lose all Hopes 
of them. 



CHAP. II. 

A Treaty hetiveen the Agents of Massachusef s 
Bay, New-FlymoutJi, and Connecticut, and 
the Sachems of the Five Nations, at Albany, 
in the Year 1689. 

ABOUT the Beginning of September 1689, 
Colonel John Pynchon, Major John 
Savage, and Captain Jonathan Bull, Agents 
for the Colonies of Massachuset's Bay, New- 
Plymouth, and Connecticut, arrived at Al- 
bany, to renew the Friendship with the Five 
Nations, and to engage them against the 
Eastern Indians, who made War on the Eng- 
lish of those Colonies, and were supported by 
the French. 

The Five Nations had received four Mes- 
sengers from the Eastern Indians, which 
gave the People of New-England some Appre- 
hensions, and they were therefore desirous 
119 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

to know what Reception these Messengers had 
met with. 

Tlie Five Nations answered by Tahajado- 
ris, a Mohawk Sachem, on the twenty fourth 
of September. He made a long Oration, re- 
jjeating all that theAgent from New-England 
had said, the Day before, and desired them 
to be attentive to the Answer now to be made 
to them. They commonly repeat over all that 
has been said to them, before they return 
any Answer, and one may be surprized at the 
Exactness of these Repetitions. They take 
the following Method to assist their Memo- 
ries: The Sachem, who presides at these 
Conferences, has a Bundle of small Sticks in 
his Hand ; as soon as the Speaker has finished 
any one Article of his Speech, this Sachem 
gives a Stick to another Sachem, who is par- 
ticularly to remember that Article; and so 
when another Article is finished, he gives a 
Stick to another to take Care of that other, 
and so on. In like Manner when the Speaker 
answers, each of these has the particular Care 
of the Answer resolved on to each Article, 
and prompts the Orator, when his Memory 
fails him, in the Article committed to his 
Charge. Tahajadoris addressing himself to 
the Agents, said : 

" Brethren, 

" You are welcome to this House, which is 
120 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

appointed for our Treaties and publick Busi- 
ness with the Christians; we thank you for 
renewing the Covenant- chain. It is now no 
longer of Iron and subject to Rust, as for- 
merly, but of pure Silver, and includes in it 
all the King's Subjects, from the Senekas 
Country eastward, as far as any of the great 
King's Subjects live, and southward, from 
New-England to Virginia. Here he gave a 
Bever. 

" We are glad to hear of the good Success 
our great King has had over the French by 
Sea, in taking and sinking so many of their 
Men of War. You tell us in your Proposals 
that we are one People, let us then go Hand 
in Hand together, to ruin and destroy the 
French our common Eiiemy. Gives a Bever. 

" The Covenant-chain between us is ancient 
(as you tell us) and of long standing, and it 
has been kept inviolably by us. When you 
had Wars some time ago with the Indians, 
you desired us to help you ; we did it readily, 
and to the Purpose; for we pursued them 
closely, by which we prevented the Effusion 
of much of your Blood. This was a certain 
Sign that w^e loved truly and sincerely, and 
from our Hearts. Gives a Belt. 

" You advise us to pursue our Enemies, the 
French, vigorously; this we assure you we 
are resolved to do to the utmost of our Pow- 
er : But since the French are your Enemies 
131 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

likewise, we desire. our Brethren of the three 
Colonies to send us an hundred Men for the 
Security of this Place, which is ill provided, 
in Case of an Attack from the French ; the 
Christians have Victuals enough for their En- 
tertainment. Gives one Belt. 

" We patiently bore many Injuries from 
the French, from one Year to another, before 
we took up the Axe against them. Our Pa- 
tience made the Governor of Canada think, 
that we were afraid of him, and durst not re- 
sent the Injuries we had so long suffered; 
but now he is undeceived. We assure you, 
that we are resolved never to drop the Axe, 
the French never shall see our Faces in Peace, 
we shall never be reconciled as long as one 
Frenchman is alive. We shall never make 
Peace, though our Nation should be ruined 
by it, and every one of us cut in Pieces. Our 
Brethren of the three Colonies may depend on 
this. Gives a Bever. 

" As to what you told us of the Owenagun- 
gas and Uragees, we answer : That we were 
never so proud and haughty, as to begin a 
War without just Provocation. Y"ou tell us 
that they are treacherous Rogues, we believe 
it, and that they will undoubtedly assist the 
French. If they sliall do this, or shall join 
with any of our Enemies, either French or 
Indians, then we will kill and destroy them. 
Gives a Bever." 

132 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Then the Mohawks offered five of their 
Men, to guard the Agents Home against any 
of their Indian Enemies, who they were 
afraid might belaying in wait for the Agents, 
and gave a I)elt. 

Afterwards the Speaker continued his 
Speech, and said : " We have spoke what we 
had to say of the War, we now come to the 
Affairs of Peace : We promise to preserve the 
Chain inviolabl}', and wish that the Sun may 
always shine in Peace over all our Heads that 
are comprehended in this Chain. We give 
two Belts, one for the Sun, the other for its 
Beams. 

" We make fast the Eoots of the Tree of 
Peace and Tranquillity, which is planted in 
this Place. Its Eoots extend as far as the 
utmost of your Colonies ; if the French should 
come to shake this Tree, Ave would feel it by 
the Motion of its Roots, which extend into 
our Country : But we trust it will not be in 
the Governor of Canada's Power to shake 
this Tree, which has been so firmly and so 
long planted with us. Gives two Be vers." 

Lastly, He desired the Magistrates of Al- 
bany to remember what he had said, and gave 
them a Bever. 

But the Agents perceiving, that they had 
not answered any Thing about the Owena- 
gunga Messengers, and had answered indis- 
tinctly about the War with the Eastern In- 
123 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

dians, desired them to explain themselves 
fully on these two Points, about which the 
Agents were chiefly concerned. 

The Five Nations answered : 

" We cannot declare War against the East- 
ern Indians, for they have done us no Harm : 
Nevertheless our Brethren of New-England 
may be assured, that we will live and die in 
friendship with them. When we took up the 
Axe against the French and their Confede- 
rates, we did it to revenge the Injuries they 
had done us; we did not make War with 
them at the Persuasions of our Brethren here ; 
for we did not so much as acquaint them with 
our Intention, till fourteen Days after our 
Army had begun their March." 

After the Company had separated, the 
Sachems sent to the New-England Agents, 
desiring to speak with them in private ; which 
being granted, the Speaker said, we have 
something to tell you, which was not proper 
to be spoken openly, for some of our People 
have an Affection to the Owenagungas ; and 
we were afraid, that they would discover or 
hinder our Designs. 

Now we assure our Brethren, that we are 
resolved to look on your Enemies as ours, and 
that we will first fall on the Owaragees;* 
and then on the Owenagungas, and lastly on 

'^•Called by the People of New England Panocok 
Indians. 

124 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the French ; and that you may be convinced 
of our Intention, we design to send five of 
our young Men along with our Brethren to 
New-England, to guard them, who have Or- 
ders to view the Country of the Owaragees, 
to discover in what Manner it can be attacked 
with the most Advantage. This we always 
do before we make an Attempt on our Ene- 
mies. In a Word, Brethren, your War is our 
War, for we will live and dye with you. 

But it is to be observed, that they con- 
firmed nothing relating to these Indians, by 
giving Belts. 

It is probable, that the Sachems acted with 
some Art on this Occasion, for they really 
had favourable Inclinations towards the 
Owenagungas ; and they had Reason not to 
increase the Number of their Enemies, by 
making War on the Eastern Indians, who 
avoided doing them any Injury. The People 
of Albany likewise have always been averse 
to engage our Indians in a War with the 
Eastern Indians, lest it should change the 
Seat of the War, and bring it to their own 
Doors. 

On the 25th the Magistrates of Albany had 
a private Conference with the Sachems of the 
Five Nations, and desired to know their 
Resolutions as to the War with Canada, and 
the Measures they resolved to follow. In 
this Conference the Indians saw that the Peo- 
126 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

pie of Albany were so niiicli afraid of the 
French, that their Spirits were sunk under 
the Apprehensions of the approaching War ; 
and for this Reason made the following An- 
swer. 

" We have a hundred and forty Men out- 
skulking about Canada; it is impossible for 
the French to attempt any Thing, without 
being discovered and harassed by these Par- 
ties : If the French shall attempt any Thing 
this Way, all the Five Nations will come to 
your Assistance, for our Brethren and we are 
but one, and we will live and dye together. 
We have desired a hundred Men of our 
Brethren of Boston to assist us here, because 
this Place is most exposed ; but if the Gov- 
ernor of Canada is so strong, as to overcome 
us all united together, then he must be our 
Master, and is not to be resisted; but we 
have Confidence in a good and just Cause; 
for the great God of Heaven knows how de- 
ceitfully the French have dealt with us, their 
Arms can have no Success. The Great God 
hath sent us Signs in the Sky to confirm this. 
We have heard uncommon Noise in the 
Heavens, and have seen Heads fall down 
upon Earth, which we look upon as a certain 
Presage of the Destruction of the French: 
Take Courage ! On this they all immediately 
joined in singing and crying out. Courage! 
Courage ! " 

126 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 



CHAP. III. 

A71 Akfcount of a general Council of the Five 
Nations at Onondaga, to consider the Count 
De Frontenac' s Message. 

OX the 27th of December 1689, two In- 
dians came to Albany, being sent by 
the Onondaga and Oneydo Sachems, with 
seven Hands of Wampum from eacli Nation, 
to tell their Brethren in New-York and New- 
England, that three of their old Friends, who 
had been carried Prisoners to France, were 
come with Pro])osals from Canada; that there 
was a Council of the Sachems appointed to 
meet at Onondaga, and that they therefore 
desired the Mayor of Albany, Peter Scheyler, 
and some others of their Brethren, to come 
thither, to be present and to advise on an 
Affair of so great Consequence ; for they were 
resolved to do nothing without the Knowl- 
edge and Consent of all those that were in- 
cluded in the Chain with them. 

The same Messenger told them, that some 
Lettei'S were sent to the Jesuit at Oneydo ; 
and that they would neither burn, nor suffer 
those Letters to be opened, till the Brethren 
should first see them. 

All that the Magistrates of Albany did on 
this important Occasion, was to send three 
137 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Indians with Instructions in their Name, to 
dissuade the Eive Nations from entertaining 
any Thoughts of Peace, or yielding to a Ces- 
sation of Arms. 

On the 4th of January one of the chief 
Mohawk Sachems came to Albany, to tell the 
Magistrates, that he was to go to Onondaga, 
and desired the Brethren's Advice how to 
behave there; on which the Magistrates 
thought it necessary to send likewise the pub- 
lick Interpreter, and another Person to assist 
at the general Meeting, with written Instruc- 
tions ; but no Person of Note, that had any 
Influence on the Indians, went. 

When the Messengers arrived at Oneydo, 
they discoursed privately with one of the 
Prisoners that had returned from France, and 
found that he had no Love for the French ; 
but it is impossible but that Indians, who had 
seen the French Court, and many of their 
Troops, must be surprised at their Grandeur : 
he complained however of the ill Usage he 
had met with. The French chose, on this 
Occasion, to send first to Oneydo, because of 
the Assistance they expected the Jesuit, that 
resided there, would give to their Negotiation. 

I believe it will not be tedious to the 
Reader, that desires to know the Indian 
Genius, if I give a circumstantial Account of 
this general Council or Parliament of the 
Five Nations, that he may see in what Man- 
128 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

ner a People that we call Savages behave on 
such important Occasions. 

On the 22d of January the general Council 
was opened at Onondaga, consisting of eighty 
Sachems ; in the first Place Sadekanaghtie, an 
Onondaga Sachem, rising up, addressed him- 
self to the Messenger of Albany, saying. 

Four Messengers are come from the Gov- 
ernor of Canada, viz. three who had been 
carried Prisoners to France, and a Sachem of 
the Prayhig Indians that live at Montreal. 

The Governor of Canada notifies his Arri- 
val to us, that he is the Count de Frontenac, 
who had been formerly Governor there ; that 
he had brought back with him Tawerahet a 
Cayuga Sachem, and twelve Prisoners, that 
had been carried to France ; then taking the 
Belt of Wampum in his Hand, and holding 
it by the Middle, he added, what I have said 
relates only to one Half of the Belt, the oth- 
er Half is to let us know, that he intends to 
kindle again his Fire at Cadarackui next 
Spring, and therefore invites his Children, 
and Dekanasora an Onondaga Captain in par- 
ticular, to treat there with him about the ohl 
Chain. Then Adarahta the chief Sachem of 
the praying Indians stood up, and said, with 
three Belts in his Hand, I advise you to meet 
the Governor of Canada as he desires ; agree 
to this, if you would live, and gives one Belt 
of Wampum. 

Vol. L— 9 129 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Tawerahet sends you this other Belt, to in- 
form you of the Miseries, that he and the rest 
of your Countrymen have suffered in their 
Captivity ; and to advise you to hearken to 
Yonondio, if you desire to liA^e. 

This third Belt is from *Thurensera, 
f Ohguesse, and J Ertel, who say by it, to 
their Brethren : We have interceded for you 
with Yonondio, and therefore advise you to 
meet him at Cadarackui in the Spring, be- 
cause it will be for your Advantage. 

When this Sachem had done speaking, the 
Mohawk Messenger sent from Albany deliv- 
ered his Message AVord for AVord, as he had 
received it, without omitting the least Arti- 
cle. The Interpreter, while the Indian was 
speaking, read over a Paper, on which the 
Message was set down, lest any Thing should 
have been forgot. 

After this Cannehoot a Seneka Sachem 
stood up, and gave the general Council a par- 
ticular Account of a Treaty made last Sum- 
mer, between the Senekas and the Wagunha 
Messengers, (one of the Utawawa Nations) 

*Thurensera signifies the Dawning of the Day, 
and was the Name given by the Indians to the 
Jesuit Lamberville, who had formerly resided at 
Onondaga, 
f Monsr. le Morne, the Word signifies a Partridge, 
X Ertel signifies a Rose, the Name of some other 
French Gentleman, for Avhom the Indians had an 
Esteem. 

130 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

who had concluded a Peace for themselves, 
and seven other Nations, to which the otliei 
four Nations were desired to agree, and their 
Brethren of New- York to be included in it. 
He said the Proposals made in several Propo- 
sitions were as follow. 

1. We are come to join two Bodies into 
one. Delivering up at the same Time two 
Prisoners. 

2. We are come to learn Wisdom of you 
Senekas, and of the other Five Nations, and 
of your Brethren of New- York. Giving a 
Belt. 

3. We by this Belt wipe away the Tears 
from the Eyes of your Friends, whose Eela- 
tions have been killed in the War, and like- 
wise * the Paint from your Soldiers Faces. 
Giving another Belt. 

4. We now throw aside the Ax, which 
Yonondio put into our Hands, by this third 
Belt. 

5. Let the Sun, as long as he shall endure, 
always shine upon us in Friendship. Here 
he gave a red Marble Sun as large as a Plate. 

6. Let the Rain of Heaven wash away all 
Hatred, that we may again smoke together 
in Peace, giving a large Pipe of red Marble. 

*The Indians always paint their Faces when they 

go to War, to make themselves look more terrible to 

the Enemy. A Soldier in the Indian Language is 

expressed by a Word, which signifies a Fair-fighter. 

131 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

7. Yonondio is drunk, but we wash our 
Hands clean from all his Actions. Giving a 
fourth Belt. 

8. Now we are clean washed by the Water 
of Heav^en, neither of us must defile our- 
selves by hearkening to Yonondio. 

9. We have twelve of your Nation Prison- 
ers, who shall be brought home in the 
Spring ; there he gave a Belt, to confirm the 
Promise. 

10. We will bring your Prisoners when 
the Strawberries shall be in blossom, *at 
which Time we intend to visit Corlear, and 
see the Place where the Wampum is made. 
(New- York. ) 

The Speaker added, we will also tell our 
Friends the other Utawawa Nations, and the 
Dionondadies, who have eleven of your Peo- 
ple Prisoners, what we have now^ done, and 
invite them to make Peace with you. 

He said further, we have sent three Mes- 
sengers back with the Wagunhas, in order to 
confirm this Peace with their Nation. 

After the Seneka Speaker had done, the 
Wagunha Presents were hung up in the 
House, in the Sight of the whole Assembly, 
and afterwards distributed among the several 
Nations, and their Acceptance was a Ratifi- 

* The Indians in this Manner distinguish the Sea- 
sons of the Year, as the Time of planting Corn, or 
when it is ripe, when the Chesnuts blossom, &c. 
132 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

cation of the Treaty. A large Belt was given 
also to the Albany Messengers as their 
Share. 

The Belt of Wampum sent from Albany 
was in like Manner hanged up, and after- 
wards divided. 

New-England, which the Indians call Kin- 
shon (that is a Fish) sent likewise the Model 
of a Fish, as a token of their adhering to the 
general Covenant. This Fish was handed 
round among the Sachems, and then laid 
aside to be put up. 

After these Ceremonies were over, Sadeka- 
nahtie, an Onondaga Speaker, stood up, and 
said. Brethren, we must stick to our Brother 
Quider, and look on Yonondio as our Enemy, 
for he is a Cheat: By Quider they meant 
Peter Schyler the Mayor of Albany, who had 
gained a considerable Esteem among them ; 
as they have no Labeals in their Language, 
they pronounce Peter by the Sound Quider. 

The Messenger from Canada had brought 
Letters, and some medicinal Powder, for the 
Jesuit Milet, who resided at Oneydo. These 
Letters and the Powder were delivered to the 
Interpreter from Albany to be carried thither, 
that the Contents of them might be made 
known to the Sachems of the several Nations. 
The Jesuit was present all this While in their 
Council. 

Then the Interpreter was desired to speak 
133 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

what he had to say from their Brethren at 
Albany. He told them, that a new Gover- 
nor Avas arrived, who had brought a great 
many Soldiers from England. That the 
King of England had declared War against 
France, and that the People of New-England 
were fitting out Ships against Canada. He 
advised them, that they should not hearken 
to the French, for when they talk of Peace, 
said he. War is in their Heart, and desired 
them to enter into no Treaty but at Albany, 
for the French, he said, would mind no 
Agreement made any where else. 

After this they had Consultations for some 
Time together, and then gave the following 
Answer by their Speaker. 

Brethren, our Fire burns at Albany. We 
will not send Dekanasora to Cadarackui. 
We adhere to our old Chain with Corlear ; 
we will prosecute the War with Yonondio, 
and will follow your Advice in drawing off 
our Men from Cadarackui. Brethren, we are 
glad to hear the News you tell us, but tell us 
no Lies. 

Brother Kinshon, we hear you design to 
send Soldiers to the eastward against the In- 
dians there ; but we advise you, now so many 
are united against the French, to fall imme- 
diately on them. Strike at the Root, when 
the Trunk shall be cut down, the Branches 
fall of Course. 

m 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Corlear and Kiiishon, Courage! Courage! 
In the Spring to Quebeck, take that Place, 
and you'll have your Feet on the Necks of 
the French, and all their Friends in America. 

After this they agreed to the following An- 
swer to be sent to the Governor of Canada. 

1. Yonondio, you have notified your Ke- 
turn to us, and that you have brought back 
13 of our Peojole that were carried to France, 
we are glad of it. You desire us to meet you 
at Cadarackui next Spring, to treat of the old 
Chain ; but Yonondio, how can we trust you, 
after you have acted deceitfully so often? 
Witness what was done at Cadarackui ; the 
Usage our Messengers met with at Utawawa, 
and what was done to the Senekas at Utawa- 
wa. This was their Answer ; however, they 
sent a Belt with this, which always shews a 
Disposition to treat. 

2. Therhansera, Oghuesse and Ertel, do 
you observe Friendship with us, if you have 
not, how come you to advise us to renew 
Friendship with Yonondio, they sent them 
likewise a Belt? 

3. Tawerahet, the whole Council is glad to 
hear, that you are returned with the other 
twelve. Yonondio, you must send home 
Tawerahet and the others this very Winter, 
before Spring, and we will save all the 
French that we have Prisoners till that Time. 

4. Yonondio, you desire to speak with us 

135 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

at Cadarackui: Dou't you know that your 
Fire there is extinguished? It is extin- 
guished with Blood, you must send home the 
Prisoners in the first Place. 

5. We let you know that we have made 
Peace with the Wagunhas. 

6. You are not to think, that we have laid 
down the Axe, because we return an An- 
swer; we intend no such Thing: Our Far- 
fighters shall continue the War till our Coun- 
trymen return. 

7. When our Brother Tawerahet is re- 
turned, then will we speak to you of Peace. 

As soon as the Council broke up, their Ees- 
olutions were made publick to all their Peo- 
ple, by the Sachems of their several Nations. 

Two Sachems were sent to Albany, by 
their general Council, to inform their Breth- 
ren there of their Kesolutions, and to bring 
back the Contents of the Letters sent from 
Canada to the Jesuit. 

As soon as they arrived, one of the Mo- 
hawks, that had been sent from Albany to 
the Council, delivered the Wagunha Belt, and 
repeated over distinctly all the Articles 
agreed to with that Nation, and referred to 
the Onondaga Speaker, being one of those 
sent by the Council of Albany, to recite the 
Answer to the Governor of Canada. He ris- 
ing up, repeated over the whole as before set 
down, and added; The French are full of 
136 



FIVE INDIAX NATIONS, &c. 

Deceit ; but I call God to witness, we have 
hitherto used no Deceit with them, but how 
we shall act for the future, Time only can 
discover. Then he assured the Brethren, that 
the Five Nations were resolved to prosecute 
the War, in Token whereof he presented 
* Quider with a Belt, in which three Axes 
were represented. Perliai)S by this Repre- 
sentation only three Nations joined in send- 
ing it, the Cayugas and Oneydoes being more 
under the Influence of the Jesuit Milet, who 
lived among them intirely, according to their 
Manner of Life, and was adopted by the 
Oneydoes, and made one of their Sachems. 
The Letters from Canada to him were read, 
they contained nothing but common News 
and Compliments. 

The Mohawk Messengers, that had been 
sent from Albany, had carried with them 
Goods to sell at the general Council. This 
was taken Notice of at the general Council, 
and gave the Indians a mean Opinion of the 
People of Albany, and particularly of Peter 
Schyler; for it is exceedingly scandalous 
among the Indians, to employ a Merchant in 
publick Affairs ; Merchants, (I mean the Tra- 
ders with the Indians) are looked upon by 
them as Liars, and People not to be trusted, 
and of no Credit, who by their Thoughts be- 
ing continually turned upon Profit and Loss, 

* Peter Schyler, Mayor of Albany. 
137 



THE H18T0KY OF THE 

consider every Thing with that private View. 
As this made a Noise at Albany, by its giving 
the Jesuit an Opportunity of setting the Mes- 
sengers from Albany in an ill Light, Peter 
Scheyler cleared himself by Oath, of his hav- 
ing any Interest directly or indirectly in 
those Goods, and sent a Belt back with his 
publick Justification. The Mohawk Messen- 
gers had refused to take the Goods, as being 
scandalous to the Business they went on ; but 
were persuaded, by being told that the Goods 
belonged to Quider. 

The Magistrates of Albany advised the 
Sachems, to send the Jesuit Prisoner to Al- 
bany, where he might be kept securely, with- 
out having it in his Power to do Mischief, 
but they could not prevail. The Indians 
were resolved to keep all the Means of mak- 
ing Peace in their own Hands. 



CHAP. IV. 

The French surprise Schenectady. The 
Mohawks Speech of Condoleance on that 
Occasion. 

THE Count De Frontenac being desirous, 
as before observed, to raise the droop- 
ing Spirits of the French in Canada, by keep- 
ing them in Action, and engaging the most 
138 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

daring of them, in Enterprizes that might 
give Courage to the rest, had sent out three 
Parties against the English Colonies, in 
Hopes thereby to lessen the Confidence which 
the Five Nations had in the English Assis- 
tance, now that England had declared War 
against France. The Party sent against 
New-York was commanded by Monsr. De 
Herville, and was ordered to attempt the 
surprising of Schenectady, the nearest Vil- 
lage to the Mohawks; It consised of 150 
French Bush-lopers or Indian Traders, and 
of as many Indians, the most of them French 
Converts from the Mohawks, commonly called 
the Praying Indians, settled at a Place near 
Montreal, called Cahnuaga. They were well 
acquainted with all that Part of the Country 
round Schenectady ; and came in Sight of the 
Place the 8th of February 1689-90. 

The People of Schenectady Avere at that 
Time in the greatest Security, notwithstand- 
ing that they had Information from the In- 
dians, of a Party of French, and French In- 
dians being upon their March that Way. 
They did not think it practicable, in that Sea- 
son of the Year, while it was extremely cold, 
and the whole Country covered with Snow. 
Indeed Europeans will hardly think it possi- 
ble, that Men could make such a March 
through the Wilderness in the severest Frosts, 
without any Covering from the Heavens, or 
139 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

any Provision, except what they carried on 
their Backs. 

Tho' the People of Schenectady were in- 
formed in the Evening before the Place was 
surprised, that several sculkiug Indians were 
seen near the Place, they concluded, that 
they could be only some of the neighbouring 
Indians; and as they had no Officer of any 
Esteem among them, not a single Man could 
be persuaded to watch in such severe Weath- 
er, tho', as the French owned afterwards, if 
they had found the least Guard or Watch, 
they would not have attempted the Place, but 
have surrendered themselves Prisoners : They 
were so exceedingly distressed with the 
Length of their March, and with Cold, and 
Hunger, but finding the Place in fatal Secu- 
rity, they marched into the Heart of the Vil- 
lage, without being discovered by any one 
Person ; then they raised their War Shout, 
entered the Houses, murdered every Person 
they met. Men, Women, and Children, naked 
and in cold Blood ; and at the same Time set 
Fire to the Houses. A very few escaped, by 
running out naked into the Woods in this 
terrible Weather: And several hid them- 
selves, till the first Fury of the Attack was 
over; but these were soon driven from their 
lurking Places by the Fire, and were all made 
Prisoners. 

Captain Alexander Glen, at this Time, 
140 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

lived at a Distance by himself, on tlie other 
Side of the River, and was the most noted 
Man in the Place. He had at several Times 
been kind to the French, who had been taken 
Prisoners by the Mohawks, and had saved 
several of them from the Fire. The French 
were sensible Avdiat Horror this cruel sacking 
of a defenceless Place, and murdering Peo- 
ple in cold Blood, must raise in Mens Minds; 
and to lessen this, they resolved to shew their 
Gratitude to Captain Glen. They had passed 
his House in the Night, and observing that 
he stood on his Defence the next Morning, 
some of them went to the River Side, and 
calling to him, assured hiin, that they de- 
signed him no Injury. They persuaded liim 
to come to the French Officer, who restored 
to him all his Relations tliat were Prisoners. 

Some Mohawks being also found in the 
Village, the French dismissed them, with 
Assurance, that they designed them no Hurt. 

This Conduct was not only necessary to 
promote the Peace which the Count De Fron- 
tenac with so much Earnestness desired, but 
likewise to secure their Retreat, by making 
the Mohawks less eager to pursue them. 

The French marched back, without reaping 
any visible Advantage from this barbarous 
Enterprize, besides the murdering six-^y-three 
innocent Persons in cold Blood, and carrying 
twenty-seven of them away Prisoner? 
141 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

The Care the French took to sooth the Mo- 
hawks had not mtirely it's Effect, for as soon 
as they heard of this Action, a hundred of 
their readiest young Men pursued the French, 
fell upon their Eear, and killed and took 
twenty-five of them. 

This Action frightened the Inhabitants in 
and about Albany so much, that many re- 
solved to desert the Place, and retire to New- 
York. They were packing up and preparing 
for this Purpose, when the Mohawk Sachems 
came to Albany to condole, according to their 
Custom, with their Friends, when any Mis- 
fortune befals them. I shall give their 
Speech on this Occasion, as it will be of Use 
to the Reader, in order to his forming a true 
Notion of the Indian Genius. They spoke 
the twenty-fifth of March as follows. 

" Brethren, the Murder of our Brethren at 
Schenectady by the French grieves us as 
much, as if it had been done to our selves, for 
we are in the same Chain ; and no Doubt our 
Brethren of New-England will be likewise 
sadly affected with this cruel Action of the 
French. The French on this Occasion have 
not acted like brave Men, but like Thieves 
and Robbers. Be not therefore discouraged. 
We give this Belt to wipe away your Tears. 

"Brethren, we lament the Death of so 
many of our Brethren, whose Blood has been 
shed at Schenectady. We don't think that 
142 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

what the French have clone can be called a 
Victory, it is only a farther Proof of their 
cruel Deceit. The Governor of Canada sends 
to Onondaga, and talks to us of Peace with 
our whole House, but War was in his Heart, 
as you now see by woful Experience. He 
did the same formerly at Cadarackui, and in 
the Senekas Country. This is the third Time 
he has acted so deceitfully. He has broken 
open our Hoiise at both Ends, formerly in 
the Senekas Country, and now here. We 
hope however to be revenged of them. One 
Hundred of our bravest young Men are in 
Pursuit of them, they are brisk Fellows, and 
they will follow the French to their Doors. 
We will beset them so closely, that not a Man 
in Canada shall dare to step out of Doors 
to cut a Stick of Wood ; But now we gather 
up our Dead, to bury them, by this second 
Belt. 

"Brethren, we came from our Castles with 
Tears in our Eyes, to bemoan the Bloodshed 
at Schenectady by the Perfidious French. 
While we bury our Dead murdered at Sche- 
nectady, we know not what may have befal- 
len our own People, that are in Pursuit of 
the Enemy, they may be dead ; what has be- 
fallen you may happen to us ; and therefore 
we come to bury our Brethren at Schenectady 
with this third Belt. 

" Great and sudden is the Mischief, as if it 
143 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

had fallen from Heaven upon us. Our Fore- 
fathers taught us to go with all Speed to be- 
moan and lament with our Brethren, when 
any Disaster or ^Misfortune happens to any in 
our Chain. Take this Bill of Vigilance, that 
you may be more watchful for the future. 
We give our Brethren Eye-Water to make 
them sharp sighted, giving a fourth Belt. 

" We are now come to the House where we 
usually renew the Chain ; but alas ! we find 
the House polluted, polluted with Blood. 
All the Five Nations have heard of this, and 
we are come to wipe away the Blood, and 
clean the House. We come to invite Corlear, 
and every one of you, and Quider (calling to 
every one of the principal Men present by 
their Names) to be revenged of the Enemy, 
by this fifth Belt. 

"Brethren, be not discouraged, we are 
strong enough. This is the Beginning of 
your War, and the whole House have their 
Eyes fixed upon you at this Time, to observe 
your Behaviour. They wait your Motion, 
and are ready to join in any resolute Meas- 
ures. 

" Our Chain is a strong Chain, it is a Sil- 
ver Chain, it can neither rust nor be broken. 
We, as to our Parts, are resolute to continue 
the War. 

" We will never desist, so long as a Man of 
us remains. Take Heart, do not pack up 
144 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

and go away, * this will give Heart to a das- 
tardly Enemy. We are of the Kace of the 
Bear, and a Bear you know never yields, 
while one Drop of Blood is left. We must 
all be Bears ; giving a sixth Belt. 

"Brethren be patient, this Disaster is an 
Affliction which has fallen from Heaven upon 
us. The Sun, which hath been cloudy, and 
sent this Disaster, will shine again with its 
pleasant Beams. Take Courage, said he, 
Courage, repeating the Word several Times 
as they gave a seventh Belt." 

(To the English.) 

Brethren, three Years ago we were en- 
gaged in a bloody War with the French, and 
you encouraged us to proceed in it. Our Suc- 
cess answered our Expectation ; but we were 
not well begun, when Corlear stopt us from 
going on. Had you permitted us to go on, the 
French would not now have been able to do 
the Mischief, they have done, we would have 
prevented their sowing, planting or reaping. 

We would have humbled them effectually, 
but now we dye. The Obstructions you then 
made now ruin us. Let us after this be 
steady, and take no such false Measures for 
the future, but prosecute the War vigorously. 
Giving a Bever Skin. 

* This was spoke to the English, who were about 
removing from Albany. 
Vol. I.— 10 145 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

The Brethren must keep good Watch, and 
if the Enemy come agam, send more speedily 
to us. Don't desert Schenectady. The Ene- 
my will glory in seeing it desolate. It will 
give them Courage that had none before, 
fortify the Place, it is not well fortified now : 
The Stockadoes are too short, the Indians 
can jump over them. Gave a Bever Skin. 

Brethren, The Mischief done at Schenec- 
tady cannot be helped now ; but for the fu- 
ture, when the Enemy appears any where, let 
nothing hinder your sending to us by Ex- 
presses, and fire great Guns, that all may be 
alarmed. We advise you to bring all the 
River Indians under your Subjection to live 
near Albany, to be ready on all Occasions. 

Send to New-England, tell them what has 
happened to you. They will undoubtedly 
awake and lend us their helping Hand. It 
is their Interest, as much as ours, to push the 
War to a speedy Conclusion. Be not dis- 
couraged, the French are not so numerous as 
some People talk. If we but heartily unite 
to push on the War, and mind our Business, 
the French will soon be subdued. 

The Magistrates having returned an An- 
swer on the twenty seventh, to the Satisfac- 
tion of the Indians, they repeated it all over, 
Word by Word, to let the Magistrates see 
how carefully they minded it, and then 
added, 

146 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Brethren, we are glad to find you are not 
discouraged. The best and wisest Men some- 
times make Mistakes. Let us now pursue 
the War vigorously. We have a hundred 
Men out, they are good Scouts. AVe expect 
to meet all the Sachems of the other Nations, 
as they come to condole witli you. You need 
not fear our being ready, at the first Notice. 
Our Ax is always in our Hands, but take 
Care that you be timely ready. Your Ships, 
that must do the principal Work, are long a 
fitting out. We do not design to go out with 
a small Company, or in sculking Parties ; but 
as soon as the Nations can meet, we shall be 
ready with our whole Force. If you would 
bring this War to a happy Issue, you must 
begin soon, before the French can recover the 
Losses they have received from us, and get 
new Vigour and Life, therefore send in all 
Haste to New-England. Neither you nor we 
can continue long in the Condition we are 
now in, we must order Matters so, that the 
French be kept in continual Fear and Alarm 
at home ; for this is the only Way to be se- 
cure, and in Peace here. 

The Scahkok Indians, in our Opinion, are 
well placed where they are (to the Northward 
of Albany) ; they are a good Out-guard ; they 
are our Children, and we shall take Care that 
they do their Duty : But you must take Care 
of the Indians below the Town, place them 
J47 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

nearer the Town, so as they may be of most 
Service to you. 

Here we see the Mohawks acting like hearty 
Friends, and if the Value of the Beits given 
at that Time be considered, together with 
what they said on that Occasion, they gave 
the strongest Proofs of their Sincerity. Each 
of these Belts amount to a large Sum in the 
Indian Account. 

The English of New-York and the French 
of Canada were now entering into a War, in 
which the Part the Five Nations are to take 
is of the greatest Consequence to both ; the 
very Being of the French Colony depended on 
it, as well as the Safety of the English. The 
Indians at this Time had the greatest 
Aversion to the French, and they desired 
nothing so much, as that the English might 
join heartily in this War. We shall see by 
the Sequel how a publick Spirit, directed by 
wise Counsels, can overcome all Difficulties, 
while a selfish Spirit loses all, even natural 
Advantages. In the present Case, the Turn 
Things took seems to have been entirely ow- 
ing to one Thing. The French in making the 
Count de Frontenac Governor of Canada, 
chose the Man every Way the best qualified 
for this Service : The English seemed to have 
little Kegard to the Qualification of the Per- 
son they sent, but to gratify a Relation or a 
Friend, by giving him an Opportunity to 
148 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c 

make a Fortune ; and as he knew that he was 
recommended Avith this View, his Counsels 
were chiefly employed for this Purpose. 

By this Means an English Governor gener- 
ally wants the Esteem of the People ; while 
they think that a Governor has not the Good 
of the People in A^iew, but his own, they on 
all Occasions are jealous of him ; so that even 
a good Governor, with more Difficulty, pur- 
sues generous Purposes and publick Benefits, 
because the People suspect them to be mere 
Pretences to cover a private Design. It is 
for this Reason, that any INIan, opposing a 
Governor, is sure to meet with the Favour of 
the People, almost in every Case. On the 
other Hand, the Opinion the French had of 
the Count de Frontenac's publick Spirit, and 
of his Wisdom and Diligence, made them 
enter into all his Measures without hesitating, 
and chearfully obey all his Commands. 



CHAP. V. 

The Five Nations continue the War with the 
French; the Mohawks incline to Peace; 
their Conferences with the Governor oj 
New- York. 

THE Governor of Canada received Hopes 
that the Five Nations inclined to Peace, 
by their returning an Answer to Therawaet's 
149 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Message, and thought he might now venture 
to send some French to them with further 
Proi)osals. The Chevalier D'O, with an 
Interpreter called Collin, and some others, 
went ; but they had a much warmer Recep- 
tion than they expected, beiug forced to run 
the Gauntlet through a long Lane of Indians, 
as they entered their Castle, and were after- 
wards delivered up Prisoners to the English. 
The Five Nations kept out at this Time 
small Parties, that continually harassed the 
French. The Count de Frontenac sent Cap- 
tain Louvigni to Missilimakinak, to relieve 
the Garison, and he had Orders, by all 
Means, to prevent the Peace which the Uta- 
wawas and Quatoghies were upon the Point 
of concluding with the Five Nations. He 
carried with him one hundred forty three 
French, and six Indians, and was likewise 
accompanied with a Lieutenant and thirty 
Men, till he got one hundred twenty Miles 
from Montreal. They were met in Cada- 
rackui River, at a Place called the Cats, by a 
Party of the Five Nations, who fell vigor- 
ously on their Canoes, killed several of the 
French, and made them give Way ; but Lou- 
vigni, by putting his Men ashore, at last got 
the better, after a smart Engagement, in 
which the Indians had several Men killed, 
and two Men, and as many Women, taken 
Prisoners. I am obliged to rely on the 
150 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

French Account of these Skirmishes ; they do 
not mention the Number of the Indians in 
this Rencounter, but I suspect them to have 
been much fewer than the French ; for when 
the Enemy are equal in Number, or greater, 
they seldom forget to tell it. One of the In- 
dian Prisoners was carried by them to Missili- 
mackinak, to confirm this Victory, and was 
delivered to the Utawawas, who eat him. 
The Lieutenant carried the other back with 
him. He was given to Therawaet. 

To revenge this Loss, the Five Nations 
sent a Party against the Island of Montreal, 
who fell on that Part called the Trembling 
Point ; and though they were discovered be- 
fore they gave their Blow, they attacked a 
Party of regular Troops, and killed the com- 
manding Officer, and twelve of his Men : An- 
other Party carried off fifteen or sixteen Pris- 
oners from Riviere Puante, over against Trois 
Rivieres. This Party was pursued, and hnd- 
ing that they we]'e like to be overpowered, 
murdered their Prisoners and made their Es- 
cape. These Incursions kept all the River, 
from Montreal to Quebeck, in continual 
Alarm, and obliged the Governor to send all 
the Soldiers to guard the south Side of the 
River. Notwithstanding this, five Persons 
were carried away in Sight of Sorel Fort, by 
a small skulking Party, but they were soon 
afterwards recovered by the Soldiers. About 
151 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the same Time another Party burnt the Plan- 
tations at St. Ours. 

The Five Nations had conceived great 
Hopes from the Assistance of the English, as 
the Magistrates of Albany had promised the 
Mohawks, when they came to condole, after 
the surprising of Schenectady ; but the Eng- 
lish were so far from performing these Prom- 
ises, that many of the Inhabitants retired 
from Albany to New-York; and they who 
had the Administration of Affairs, were so 
intent on their party Quarrels, that they in- 
tirely neglected the Indian Affairs. Indeed 
the People of New- York have too often made 
large Promises, and have thereby put the In- 
dians upon bold Enterprizes, when no Meas- 
ures were concerted for supj^orting them. 
This made the Indians think, that the Eng- 
lish were lavish of Indian Lives and too care- 
ful of their own. The Mohawks, who lived 
nearest the English, were most sensible of 
these Things, and soon entertained Notions 
prejudicial to the Opinion they ought to have 
had of the English Prudence and Conduct; 
it is even probable, these Indians began to 
entertain a mean Opinion of both the English 
Courage and Integrity. It is not strange 
then, that the Mohawks at last gave Ear to 
the assiduous Application of their Country- 
men, the praying Indians, who, with French 
Arguments, persuaded them to make Peace as 
152 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, «&c. 

soon as x^ossible, without trusting longer to 
the English, who had so often disappointed 
or deceived them. 

The Mohawks sent one of their Sachems, 
Odigacege, to the praying Indians, who intro- 
duced him to the Count de Frontenac. The 
Count made him welcome, and told him, that 
he was sorry for the Injuries his Predecessors 
had done them ; but that he would treat them 
like Friends, if their future Conduct did not 
prevent him, and gave him a Belt, with Pro- 
posals of Peace to his Nation. 

Colonel Slaughter, who was then Governor 
of New- York, being informed that the Five 
Nations were like to make Peace with the 
French, by their having lost mucli of their 
Confidence in the English Assistance, found 
it necessary to meet them, which he did in 
the End of May 1691. There were present 
at that Time six Oneydo, eleven Onondaga, 
four Cayuga, and ten Seneka Sachems. He 
renewed the Covenant with them, and gave 
them Presents. The Mohawks having en- 
tered into a Treaty with the French, did not 
join with the other four Nations in their An- 
swer. 

On the second of June the Speaker, in 
Name of the other four Nations, told him, 
they were glad to see a Governor again in this 
Place ; that they had learned from their An- 
cestors, that the first Ship which arrived in 
153 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

this Country surprized them exceedingly; 
that they were curious to know what was in 
its huge Belly. They found Christians in it, 
and among them one Jacques, with whom 
they made a Chain of Friendship, which has 
been preserved to this Day. By that Chain 
it was agreed, that whatever Injury was done 
to the one, should be deemed, by both Sides, 
as likewise done to the other. Then they 
mentioned the Confusion that had lately been 
in the Government of New- York, which had 
like to have confounded all their Affairs, but 
hoped all would be reduced to their wonted 
Order and Quiet. They complained of sev- 
eral of the Brethren leaving Albany in Time 
of Danger, and praised those by Name who 
staid, and then said: Our Tree of Peace, 
which grows in this Place, has of late been 
much shaken, we must now secure and fasten 
its Roots; we must frequently manure and 
dress it, that its Eoots may spread far 

They assured the G-overnor, that they were 
resolved to prosecute the War against the 
French as long as they lived, and that they 
would never speak of Peace, but with the 
common Consent. They abhor those that do 
otherwise, and desired that the Brethren 
might not keep a Correspondence with Can- 
ada by Letters. You need not (said they) 
press us to mind the War, we mind it above 
all Things ; do you but your Parts, lay aside 
154 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

all other Thoughts but that of the War, for 
it is the only Thing we have at Heart. They 
gave Bevers at the End of every distinct 
Part of their Answer. 

On the fourth the Mohawks spoke to the 
Governor, in Presence of the other four Na- 
tions : They confessed the Negotiations they 
had with the Praying Indians, and with the 
Governor of Canada, and that they had re- 
ceived a Belt from him. Then they restored 
one of the Prisoners taken at Schenectady, as 
the Fruit of that Negotiation. They desired 
the Governor's Advice, and the Advice of the 
whole House, what Answer to return to the 
Governor of Canada; and lastly, desired the 
Senekas to release the Prisoners they had 
taken from the Praying Indians. 

Colonel Slaughter check' d the Mohawks 
for entering into a separate Treaty with the 
Enemy, and said he could admit of no Pro- 
posals of Peace. He told them, that the 
Prisoners taken from the Praying Indians 
must not be restored ; putting them in mind, 
that some of them having been formerly re- 
leased, soon after returned and murdered sev- 
eral People, and burnt several Houses. 

He assured them of his Assistance, and 
then added. You must keep the Enemy in 
perpetual Alarm. The Mohawks thanked 
him for his Assurance of Assistance ; but took 
Notice of his saying. You must keep tlie Ene- 
155 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

iny in perpetual Alarm. Why don't you say, 
they replied, We will keep the Enemy in per- 
petual Alarm. In the last Place, the Mo- 
hawks renewed their League with all the Eng- 
lish Colonies ; adding. Though an angry Dog 
has endeavoured to bite the Chain in Pieces, 
we are resolved to keep it firm, both in Peace 
and in War: We now renew the old Chain, 
that so the Tree of Peace and Prosperity may 
flourish, and spread its Koots through all the 
Country. 

In the last Place, the four Nations an- 
swered the Mohawks. 

"Mohawks, our Brethren, in answer to 
your Proposals from the Governor of Canada, 
we must put you in Mind of his Deceit and 
Treachery ; we need only give one recent In- 
stance, how he lately sent to the Senekas to 
treat of Peace, and at the same Time fell 
upon Schenectady, and cut that Place off. 
We tell you, that the Belt sent by the 
French Governor is Poison ; we spew it out of 
our Mouths, we absolutely reject it, and are 
resolved to prosecute the War as long as we 
live." Then they left the Belt lying on the 
Ground. 



156 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, ifec. 



CHAP. VI. 



in 



The English attack Montreal hij Land 
Conjunction with the Indians, and Qaebeck 
by Sea. 

IT was now evident that the Indians could 
no longer be amused with Words, and 
that, unless the English entered soon upon 
Action, the French would carry their Design 
of making Peace with the Five Nations, and 
the English be left to carry on the War in 
America by themselves. Certainly a more 
proper Opportunity of doing it with Success 
could not be expected, than at present, while 
the French in Canada had neither recovered 
their Spirits, nor the Strength they had lost, 
by the terrible Incursions of the Five Nations. 
A joint Invasion on Canada was concerted 
with New-England, they were to attack Que- 
beck by Sea, while New-York attacked 
Montreal by Land. The Governor therefore 
proposed to the Indians to join with him in 
attacking Canada, for which Purpose he told 
them, that he designed to send a considerable 
Force this Summer. They desired Time to 
consult on it at their general Meeting, which 
was soon to be held at Onondaga, and to 
know what Number of Christians he designed 
to send, that they might join a suitable Num- 
157 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

ber of their Men. To this the Governor an- 
swered, that he must not coniniunicate the 
Particulars of his Design to so many, be- 
cause they couhl not then be kept secret from 
the Enemy; as he found by the Discoveries 
that were last Year made to the French by 
that Means. 

It was at last agreed, that the Mohawks 
should join with the Christians that were to 
march from New- York directly against Mon- 
treal, and that the other four Nations should 
send a considerable Party down Cadarackui 
Lake, and join them before Montreal. 

Major Peter Schuyler, the same whom the 
Indians call Quider, commanded the Party 
sent from New-Y^ork, which consisted of three 
hundred Men, one half C'hristians, the other 
Mohawks and Scahkook Indians. He set out 
from Albany about Midsummer. As he was 
preparing his Canoes to pass Corlear's Lake, 
he was discovered by the French Indians, 
who immediately returned to Montreal, to 
give Information of what they had seen. 
The Chevalier Clermont was sent out to 
make further Discoveries : He found the 
English above Chamblie, and went immedi- 
ately back With the Intelligence he there 
gained. In the mean while Mr. de Callieres, 
Governor of Montreal, did all in his Power to 
give Major Schuyler a proper Eeception, by 
drawing the Militia and regular Troops to- 
158 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

gether for the Defence of the Place. There 
happened to be a very considerable Number 
of Utawawas tradhig at that Time at Mon- 
treal, Mr. de Colliere, in Order to engage 
them to join him, made a great Feast for 
them, went among them, and, after the In- 
dian Manner, began the war Song, leading up 
the Dance with his Axe in his Hand, and 
shouting and hollowing in the same wild 
Manner the Indians do. This done, he car- 
ried his whole Force, which consisted of 
twelve hundred Men, cross the River, and 
encamped on the south Side, at la Prairie de 
la Magdeleine, together with a great Number 
of Utawawas, the Praying Indians, and other 
French Indians. The famous Therawaet be- 
ing now entirely gained by the Caresses of 
the Count de Frontenac, made one of the 
Number. They encamped round the Fort, 
which stood on a steep rising Ground between 
two Meadows. 

Major Schuyler having left forty of his 
Men to guard his Canoes, which had carried 
him cross the Lake, marched on without 
stopping. He got into a Hollow, which led 
into the Meadow, without being discovered ; 
and marching under that Cover, he fell sud- 
denly upon the IVIilitia, who were soon put 
into Confusion, and many of them, and of 
the Utawawas, Avho were posted with them, 
were killed. He pursued them as they fled 
159 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

to the Fort, which he attacked briskly, but 
was obliged to leave it, by the Approach of 
the regular Troops who came to relieve it. 
He received them however bravely, and, after 
they had lost several Officers and many Men, 
they retired. Major Schuyler finding the 
Number of the Enemy much greater than was 
expected, and being informed that a consid- 
erable Part of the Enemy had marched South- 
ward, he began to apprehend, that this Party 
was sent to cut off his Retreat, by destroying 
his Canoes. It was resolved therefore imme- 
diately to follow this Party; he overtook 
them, and they covering themselves behind 
some large fallen Trees, he attacked them, 
and made his Way through them, but with 
considerable Loss. 

In this Attack the Mohawks signalized 
themselves, but the Scahkook Indians did not 
behave themselves well. The Mohawks, 
upon no Occasion, yielded an Inch of Ground, 
till the English first gave Way. The French, 
by their own Accounts, lost, in the several 
Attacks made by Schuyler, two Captains, six 
Lieutenants, and five Ensigns, and, in all, 
three hundred Men, so that their Slain were 
in Xumber more than ]\Iajor Schuyler had 
with him. The Mohawks suffered much, 
having seventeen Men killed, and eleven 
wounded. They returned to Albany the elev- 
enth of August. 

160 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

After the English under Major Schuyler 
had retired, an Owenagunga Indian came from 
New-England, with an Account of the Prepa- 
rations made there against Canada, and that 
they had actually sailed. 

This Fleet, which was commanded by Sir 
William Phips, was discovered in St. Laurence 
Bay, while the Count de Frontenac remained 
at Montreal ; and thereupon he made all pos- 
sible Haste to Quebeck, and carried three 
hundred Men with him. 

The Fleet, which consisted of thirty Sail, 
did not reach Quebeck till the seventh of Oc- 
tober. Sir William spent three Days in noth- 
ing but Consultation, while the French made 
all possible Preparation for a Defence, and, 
by this Means, suffered them to get over the 
Fright and Consternation, into which the first 
Appearance of the Fleet had thrown them ; 
for the Place was not in any Posture of De- 
fence. It gave them Time likewise to draw 
all the Country round them into the Town. 
And on the fourth Day Sir William summoned 
the Count to surrender, who returned him 
such an Answer as his Conduct deserved. 

The English landed four Miles below the 
Town, and had thick Woods to march 
through, before they could come at it, in 
which Ambuscades of French and Indians 
were made at proper Distances, by whom the 
Englisli wove re})ulsed with considerable Loss. 
Vol. L-U 161 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

They attempted the Wood again the next Day 
with no better Success. 

The French, in their Account of this Ac- 
tion, say, that the Men, though they ap- 
peared to be as little discix^lined as Men could 
be, behaved with great Bravery, but that Sir 
William's Conduct was such, that, if he had 
been in Concert with them, he could not have 
done more to ruin the Enterprize ; yet his Fi- 
delity was never suspected. In short, this 
Descent was so ill managed, that the English 
got on Board again in the Night, with the 
Loss of all the Cannon and Baggage which 
they had landed. 

The French thought themselves in such 
great Danger at that Time, that they attrib- 
uted their Deliverance to the most immediate 
Protection of Heaven, in confounding the De- 
vices of their Enemy, and by depriving them 
of common Sense ; and for this Reason the 
People of Quebeck make an annual Proces- 
sion, in Commemoration of this Deliverance. 

Sir William cannonaded the Town for some 
Time with little Execution, and then returned 
in Hast, AVinter approaching; indeed that 
Season was already so far advanced, that he 
lost eight Vessels in his Return. 

The Five Nations continued their Incur- 
sions all along St. Laurence River, from Mon- 
treal to Quebeck, and carried away many 
Scalps. At one Time a French Officer, with 
162 



FIVE INDIAIS" NATIONS, &c. 

thirty eight Men, surprised some of the Five 
Nations in a Cabin, which they had built near 
Lake St. Piere. Some of them escaped and 
informed two other Cabins, which the French 
had not discovered, and they returned with 
their Companions, and kiUed the Captain and 
Lieutenant, and one half of the Men. 

Notwithstanding that the French preserved 
their Country, these warlike Expeditions, 
and the Necessity they were under of being 
on their Guard, prevented their cultivating 
the Ground, or of reaping the Fruit of what 
they had sowed or planted. This occasioned 
a Famine in Canada, and, to increase the Mis- 
ery of the poor Inhabitants, they were forced 
to feed the Soldiers gratis, while their own 
Children wanted Bread. 

In October the Onondagas, Cayugas, and 
Oneydoes came to Albany, to condole with 
the English, for the Men lost in the Expedi- 
tion against Montreal, as they had already 
done with the Mohawks. They said it was 
ever their Custom to condole with their 
Friends when they lost any Number of Men 
in Battle, though they had the Victory. They 
at the same Time, as they had often done be- 
fore, complained of the Dearness of Powder : 
Why, say they, do you call us your King's 
Soldiers, when you will not sell us Powder at 
the usual and reasonable Bates? 

And in answer to a Complaint, of there not 
163 



THE HISTOKY OF THE 

being a sufficient Number of English sent 
against Montreal, the People of Albany up- 
braided them with a Breach of Promise, in 
not sending that Party down Cadarackui 
River which they promised, which they said 
was the chief Reason of the want of Success 
in that Expedition. 



CHAP. VII. 

TJie French and the Five Nations Continue 
the TVar all Winter with various Success. 
The French burn a Cajitain of the Five 
Nations alive. 

THE old French Governor kept up his 
Vigour and Spirits wonderfully, no Fa- 
tigue made him ever think of Rest. He 
knew of what Use it would be to convince the 
Five Nations, that the joint Attack of the 
English and Indians had neither weakened 
him, nor frightened him from carrying on the 
War with as much Vigour as before. It was 
absolutely necessary that the Utawawas and 
other Western Indians, who came to Montreal 
to trade, should return safe to their own 
Country, otherwise there would be an End to 
the French Trade with those Nations, upon 
which the Being of Canada depends ; for it is 
only by the Fur-trade with these Nations 
164 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

that they make Eeturns to Europe; and if 
these Nations did not return in Time, all the 
Western Indians would look on the French 
as lost, and consequently would make Peace 
with the Five Nations, and perhaps join in 
the Destruction of Canada. 

Captain la Forest, with one hundred and 
ten Men, was sent to conduct the Utawawas 
Home ; he carried with him considerable 
Presents sent by the King of France, to con- 
firm these Nations in the French Interest. 

Two Indian Prisoners, taken at la Prairie, 
were given to the Utawawas, and carried with 
them, to confirm the Stories they were to tell 
of their Successes against the English and 
Five Nations. These poor Men were there 
burnt alive ; and if I should add, that it was 
done by French Instigation, what I shall re- 
late by and by will clear me of the want of 
Charity. I believe it was so, in Order to rivet 
the Hatred between these People and the 
Five Nations. 

The Five Nations continued their Incur- 
sions all Winter on Canada. Forty of the 
Mohawks fell upon Fort Vercheres, and car- 
ried off twenty of the Inhabitants ; but the 
Alarm reaching Montreal, Mr. de Crizaei, 
with one hundred Men of the regular Troops, 
was sent in pursuit of them, who recovered 
most of the Prisoners. 

The Count de Frontenac being informed, 
16.5 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

that a considerable Party of the Five IS'ations 
hunted Bever on the Neck of Land between 
Cadarackui Lake and Lake Erie, with great 
Security, resolved to give them a better 
Opinion of the Strength and Courage of the 
French. For this Purpose he sent three hun- 
dred and twelve Men to surprise them, under 
the Command of Mr. Beaucour, a young Gen- 
tleman. The Praying Indians of Montreal 
were of the Party. This Expedition being in 
the Winter, they were obliged to undergo 
cruel Fatigues, while they marched on the 
Snow with snow Shoes, and carried all their 
Provision on their Backs. Several of the 
French had their Feet frozen, which obliged 
fifteen to return, Avith some old Indians, that 
could not bear the Fatigue ; and it was with 
much Difficulty that Beaucour could persuade 
the rest to continue their March. After a 
March to a surprizing Distance, at that Sea- 
son of the Year, they surprised eighty of the 
Five Nations, who notwithstanding made a 
brave Defence, and did not run before they 
left most of their Men dead on the Spot. 
Three Women were made Prisoners, with 
whom the French immediately turned back 
to Montreal. Some stragling Parties went 
towards Albany, but did no more Mischief 
than killing two or three stragling Persons, 
and alarming the Country. 

The Trade to Missilimakinak being still in- 
166 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

tirely stopt, by the Parties of the Five Na- 
tions investing Cadarackui River, by which, 
and Cadarackui Lake, the Passage in Canoes 
is made to the Western Indians, Captain la 
None, with a Command of the regular Troops, 
was ordered early in the Spring to guard the 
Traders through that Passage ; but when he 
reached the Falls de Calumette, he discovered 
the Enemy, and returned faster than he went. 

La None had Orders a second Time to at- 
tempt this Passage, and went as far as the 
River du Lievre (thirty Leagues from Mon- 
treal) without any Obstruction; but there 
discovering several Canoes of the Five Na- 
tions, he went back as fast as before. 

The Quatoghies and the Bullheads'*^ having 
informed the French of another smaller Riv- 
er, which falls into Cadarackui River, and 
runs to the Northward of it, by which a Pas- 
sage might be made to the Lakes, it was re- 
solved to attempt this Passage, though it 
were much farther round, and more danger- 
ous, there being many more rapid Falls in 
that River. Three Officers, with thirty Sol- 
diers, were sent with the Traders for this 
Purpose, but a Party of the Five Nations 
meeting with them in the long Fall, before 
they reached this River, they were all killed 
or taken, except four that escaped back to 
Montreal. 

* The Bullheads are said to be cowardly People. 
167 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

A considerable Party of the Five Nations, 
under the Command of Blackkettle, a famous 
Hero, continued a long Time on Cadarackui 
River, in liopes of meeting with other French 
Parties, in their Passage towards Missili- 
makinak ; but finding that no Attempts were 
made that Way, he resolved to make an Ir- 
ruption into the Country round Montreal. 
The French say he had six hundred Men with 
him ; but they usually increase the Number 
of their Enemies, in the Relation they give of 
these TransacAions, either to excuse their 
Fears, or to increase their Glory. 

Blackkettle overrun the Country (to use the 
French Expression) as a Torrent does the 
Low-lands, when it overflows its Banks, and 
there is no withstanding it. The Soldiers 
had Orders to stand upon the defensive with- 
in their Forts. Mr. de Yaudreuil pursued tliis 
Party (after they had burnt and ravaged the 
whole Country) at the Head of four hundred 
Men; he overtook them and surprised them. 
The Five Nations fought desperately, though 
the same Author, at this Place, makes tlieui 
no more than two hundred Men. After they 
had lost twenty Men on the Spot, they broke 
through the French, and marched off. The 
French lost four Officers and many common 
Soldiers, and they took five Men, nine Wom- 
en, and five Children Prisoners. 

The Five Nations in a few Days had how- 
168 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

ever some Revenge; a Captain having had 
Orders to guard the Vessels from Montreal 
to Quebeck, a Party of the Five Nations 
attacked him in his Return, as he passed 
through the Islands in Lake St. Pierre. He 
himself was killed, and the whole Party in- 
tirely routed. 

The French all this Summer were obliged 
to keep upon the defensive within their Forts, 
while the Five Nations, in small Parties, rav- 
aged the whole Country, so that no Man 
stirred the least Distance from a Fort, but he 
was in danger of losing his Scalp. 

The Count de Frontenac was pierced to the 
Heart, when he found that he could not re- 
venge these terrible Incursions of the Five 
Nations; and his Anguish made him guilty 
of such a Piece of monstrous Cruelty, in burn- 
ing a Prisoner alive aftei- the Indian Manner, 
as though I have frequently mentioned to 
have been done by the Indians, yet I forbore 
giving the Particulars of such barbarous Acts, 
suspecting it might be too offensive to Chris- 
tian Ears, even in the History of Savages. 
Here however I think it useful to give a cir- 
cumstantial Account of this horrid Act, to 
shew on one Hand, what Courage and Reso- 
lution, Virtue, the Love of Glory, and the 
Love of one's Country can instill into Mens 
Minds, even where the Knowledge of true 
Religion is wanting ; and on the other Hand, 
169 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

how far a false Policy, under a corrupt Keli- 
gion, can debase even great Minds. 

The Count de Frontenac, I say, condemned 
two Prisoners of the Five Nations to be burnt 
publickly alive. The Intendant's Lady in- 
treated him to moderate the Sentence, and 
the Jesuits, it is said, used their Endeavours 
for tlie same Purpose. But the Count de 
Frontenac said, there is a Necessity of mak- 
ing such an Example, to frighten the Five 
Nations from approaching the Plantations, 
since the Indulgence, that had hitherto been 
shewn, had incouraged them to advance with 
the greatest Boldness to the very Gates of 
their Towns ; while they thought they run no 
other Risque, but of being made Prisoners, 
where they live better than at Home. He 
added, that the Five Nations having burnt so 
many French, justified this Method of mak- 
ing Peprizals. But with Submission to the 
Politeness of the French Nation, may I not 
ask, whether every (or any) horrid Action of 
a barbarous Enemy, can justify a civilized 
Nation in doing the like? 

When the Governor could not be moved, 
the Jesuits went to the Prison, to instruct 
the Prisoners in the Mysteries of our Holy 
Religion, viz. of the Trinity, the Incarnation 
of our Saviour, the Joys of Paradise, and the 
Punishments of Hell, to fit their Souls for 
Heaven by Baptism, while their Bodies were 
170 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

condemned to Torments. But the Indians, 
after they had heard their Sentence, refused 
to hear the Jesuits speak, and began to pre- 
pare for Death in their own Country Manner, 
by singing their Death Song. 

Some charitable Person threw a Knife into 
the Prison, with which one of them dispatched 
himself: The other was carried out to the 
Place of Execution by the Christian Indians 
of Loretto, to which he walked, seemingly, 
with as much Indifference as ever Martyr did 
to the Stake. Wliile they were torturing him 
he continued singing, that he was a Warrior 
brave and without Fear ; that the most cruel 
Death could not shake his Courage ; that the 
most cruel Torment should not draw an inde- 
cent Expression from him ; that his Comrade 
was a Coward, a Scandal to the Five Nations, 
who had killed himself for fear of Pain ; that 
he had the Comfort to reflect, that he had 
made many Frenchmen suffer as he did now. 
He fully verified his Words, for the most vio- 
lent Torment could not force the least Com- 
plaint from him, though his Executioners 
tried their utmost Skill to do it. They first 
broiled his Feet between two red hot Stones ; 
then they put his Fingers into red hot Pipes, 
and though he had his Arms at Liberty, he 
would not pull his Fingers out ; they cut his 
Joints, and taking hold of the Sinews, twisted 
them round small Bars of Iron. All this 
171 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

while he kept singing and recounting his own 
brave Actions against the French. At last 
they flead his Scalp from his Skull, and 
poured scalding hot Sand upon it ; at which 
Time the Intendant's Lady obtained Leave 
of the Governor to have the Coup-de-grace 
given, and I believe she thereby likewise ob- 
tained a Favour to every Reader, in deliver- 
ing him from a further continuance of this 
Account of French Cruelty. 

Notwithstanding this Cruelty, which the 
French Governor manifested towards the Five 
Nations, and thereby his Hatred of them, he 
found Peace with them so necessary to Cana- 
da, that he still pursued it by all the Means 
in his Power. For this Purpose the Praying 
Indians (who, as I observed before, are Mo- 
hawks, and have always kept a Correspond- 
ence with their own Nation) were employed 
to bring it about, and to endeavour a Cessa- 
tion of Arms, that the Governor might have 
an Opportunity of shewing what kind Things 
he had in his Heart towards the Five Nations, 
but without Success. 



172 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 



CHAP. VII. 

The Five Nations treat ivith Captain 
Ingoldshy. 

THE Governor of New-York, Colonel 
Slaughter's Death, soon after his Arri- 
val, was very prejudicial to the Affairs of 
New- York ; for Captain Ingoldsby, who had 
no other Commission but that of Captain of 
one of the Independent Companies of Foot, 
took upon himself the Government of the 
Province, without any Authority; and he 
having likewise highly offended a great Num- 
ber of the People, by the Share he took in 
the late Party Quarrels, it was not easy 
for him to prosecute any vigorous Measures. 
He was reckoned to be much more a Soldier 
than a Statesman. 

Captain Ingoldsby met the Five Nations at 
Albany, the sixth of June 1692. In his 
Speech, he told them of his vigorous Resolu- 
tions to prosecute the War, and then blamed 
them for not sending (according to their 
Promise) a Party down Cadarackui River, to 
join them that went from Albany against 
Montreal, and for their Carelessness in suf- 
fering themselves to be surprised last Winter 
in their Hunting. He desired them to keep 
173 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the Enemy in perpetual Alarm, by the Incur- 
sions of their Parties into the Enemy's Coun- 
try, and to give him timely Notice of all their 
Motions. He told them in the next Place, 
that he heard the French were still using 
their wonted Artifice, of amusing them with 
Offers of Peace ; but the former Proceedings 
of the French sufficiently demonstrates, said 
he to the Brethren, that while Peace is in 
their Mouths, War is in their Hearts, and the 
late horrid Murder of the Brethren, after 
Quarter given, sufficiently shews the Perfidy 
and Rancour of their Hearts. It is in vain, 
said he, to think of any Cessation of Arms, 
much less of a Peace, while the two Kings 
are at War at Home. He added, Virginia is 
ready to assist us, and only waits the King's 
Orders, which are daily expected, and then 
renewed the Chain for Virginia. In the last 
Place he told them, that he heard the Dion- 
ondadas had sent two Prisoners Home, with 
a View thereby to procure Peace ; and advised 
them by all Means to make Peace with that 
Nation. 

The Five Nations answered by Cheda, an 
Oneydo Sachem: 

" Brother Corlear, 

The Sachems of the Five Nations have 
with great Attention heard Corlear speak ; we 
shall make a short Recital, to shew you with 
174 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

what Care we have hearkened. After the 
Recital he contmuecl. 

We heartily thank Corlear, for his coming 
to this Place to view the Strength thereof, for 
liis bringing Forces with him, and for his Res- 
olution of putting Garisons into the Frontier 
Places. Giving live Bevers and a Belt. 

Brother Corlear, as to what you blame us 
for, let us not reproach one another, such 
Words do not savour well among Friends. 
They gave nothing with this Article. 

Brother Corlear, be patient under the Loss 
of your Men, as we are of the Mohawks our 
Brethren, that were killed at the same Time. 
You take no Notice of the great Losses we 
have suffered. We designed to have come to 
this Place to have condoled with you in your 
Loss, but the War took up all our Time, and 
employed all Hands. They gave five Bevers, 
four Otters, and one Belt, as a Gift of Con- 
dolence. 

Brother Corlear, we are all Subjects of one 
great King and Queen, we have one Head, 
one Heart, one Interest, and are all ingaged 
in the same War. You tell us, that we must 
expect no Peace while the Kings are at War 
on the other Side the great Water. We 
thank you for being so ]:»lain with us. We 
assure you we have no Thoughts of Peace. 
We are resolved to carry on the War, though 
we know we only are in danger of being 
176 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Losers. Pray do you prosecute the War with 
the same Resolution. You are strong and 
have many People. You have a great King, 
who is able to hold out long. We are but a 
small People, and decline daily, by the Men 
we lose in this War, we do our utmost to de- 
stroy the Enemy; but how strange does it 
seem to us ! How unaccountable that while 
our great King is so inveterate against the 
French, and you are so earnest with us to 
carry on the War, that Powder is now sold 
dearer to us than ever? We are poor, and 
not able to buy while we neglect hunting; 
and we cannot hunt and carry on the War at 
the same Time : We expect, that this Evil we 
so justly complain of be immediately reme- 
died. Giving nine Bevers. 

Brother Corlear, you desire us to keep the 
Enemy in perpetual Alarm, that they may 
have no Rest, till they are in their Graves ; 
Is it not to secure your own Frou tiers? Why 
then not one Word of your People that are 
to join us? We assure you we shall continue 
to carry on the War into the Heart of the 
Enemies Country. Giving eight Bevers. 

We the Five Nations, Mohawks, Oneydoes, 
Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senekas, renew the 
Silver Chain whereby we are linked fast 
with our Brethren of Assarigoa (Virginia) and 
we promise to preserve it as long as the Sun 
shall shine in the Heavens. Giving ten Bevers. 
170 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

But Brotlier Corlear, How comes it, that 
none of our Brethren fastened in tlie same 
Chain with us, offer their helping Hand in 
this general War, in which our great King is 
engaged against the French? Pray Corlear, 
how come Maryland, Delaware Eiver, and 
New-England, to be disengaged from this 
War? You have always told us, tliat they 
are our Brethren, Subjects of the same great 
King. Has our King sold them? Or do 
they fail in their Obedience? Or do they 
draw their Arms out of our Chain? Or has 
the great King commanded, that the few 
Subjects he has in this Place, should make 
War against the French alone? Pray make 
plain to us this Mystery? How can they and 
we be Brethren, and make different Families? 
How can they and we be Subjects of the same 
great King, and not be engaged m the same 
War? How can they and we have the same 
Heart, the same Head, and the same Interest, 
as you tell us, and not have the same 
Thoughts? How comes it, that the Enemy 
burns and destroys the Towns in New-Eng- 
land, and they make no Kesistance? How 
comes our great King to make War, and not 
to destroy his Enemies? When, if he would 
only command his Subjects on this Side the 
great Lake to joyn, the Destruction of the 
Enemy would not make one Summer's Work. 

You need not warn us of the Deceit and 
Vol. I.— 13 177 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Treachery of the French, who would probably 
insinuate Thoughts of Peace ; but Brethren, 
you need not fear us, we will never hearken 
to them : Tho' at the same Time, we must 
own, that we have not been without Thoughts 
of your being inclined to Peace, by Eeason of 
the Brethrens Backwardness in pushing on 
the War. The French spread Eeports among 
us to this Purpose, and say, that they had in 
a Manner concluded the Matter with you. 
We rejoice to be now assured of this Fals- 
hood. We shall never desist fighting the 
French as long as we shall live. And gave a 
Belt of Wampum. 

We now renew the old Chain, and here 
plant the Tree of Prosperity and Peace. May 
it grow and thrive, and spread its Boots even 
beyond Canada. Giving a Belt. 

We make the House clean, where all our 
Affairs of Importance are transacted with 
these five Otters. 

We return you Thanks for the Powder and 
Lead given us; but what shall we do with 
them without Guns, shall we throw them at 
the Enemy? We doubt they will not hurt 
them so. Before this we always had Guns 
given us. It is no Wonder the Governor of 
Canada gains upon us, for he supplies his 
Indians with Guns as well as Powder; he 
supplies them plentifully with every Thing 
that can hurt us. Giving five Otters. 
178 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

As to the Dionoiicladas setting two of our 
Nation at Liberty, we must tell you , that it 
was not the Act of that Nation, but the pri- 
vate Act of one Person : We are desirous to 
make Peace with that Nation as soon as we 
can, upon honourable Terms. And gave a 
Belt. 

The Mohawks, before they left the Place, 
desired a priv^ate Conference with the Gover- 
nor, and told him, that they were all exceed- 
ingly dissatisfied, that the other English Col- 
onies gave no Assistance, and that it might 
prove of ill Consequence. Captain Ingoldsby 
promised to write to them, and hoped it 
would have a good Effect. 



CHAP. IX. 

The French surprise and take three Mohaick 
Castles. 

THE Praying Indians promised their En- 
deavours to reconcile their Brethren 
the Mohawks to the French, on whom the 
French expected thej^ would have much In- 
fluence ; but their Endeavours proving ineffec- 
tual, their Correspondence began to be sus- 
pected. The French thought they did more 
Hurt than Good, by the Intelligence the Ene- 
179 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

my by their Means received. The French in 
Canada began to lose their Spirits, by being 
obliged to remain so long upon the defensive, 
as the Five Nations gained more Courage by 
it. The Count de Frontenac thought it there- 
fore absolutely necessary to undertake some 
bold Enterprize, to shew the Five Nations, 
that they had to do with an Enemy still able 
to act offensively: An Attack on the Mo- 
hawks he thought would be most effectual for 
this Purpose, because it would shew, at the 
same Time, that the English would not pro- 
tect their nearest Neighbours. As this was 
designed to be done by Surprize, the Winter 
Season was chosen for this Purpose, as least 
to be suspected at such a Time ; and when the 
Enemy could not, without great Hardship, 
keep Scouts abroad, to discover them or the 
English give any Assistance. 

The Body of the French designed for this 
Expedition was put under three Captains of 
the regular Troops, and thirty Subalterns, and 
consisted of picked Men of the regular Troops 
of the common Militia of the Country of the 
Praying Indians, the Quatoghies of Loretto, 
Adirondacks, and Sohokies, who live to the 
eastward of Boston, making in all about six 
or seven hundred Men, so that a great Part 
of the Force of Canada was employed in it. 
They were well supplied with all Sorts of 
Ammunition, Provision, Snow-Shoes, and 
180 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

such Conveniencies for Carriage, as were 
practicable upon the Suow, and through such 
great Forests as they had to pass. The 
French at Canada have a Kind of light 
Sledges made with Skins, and are drawn by 
large Dogs on the frozen Snow. 

They set out from la Prairie de Magdaleine 
the 15th of January 1692-3, after having 
endured what might have been thought unsur- 
mountable Hardships ; they passed by Sche- 
nectady at some Distance from it, on the 8th 
of February, at which Time one that had 
been taken Prisoner, when that Place was 
sacked, made his Escape from them, and gave 
the People of Schenectady Intelligence of the 
French, who by an Express, immediately in- 
formed the Commandant of Albany. The 
Militia was expeditiously raised, and a Lieu- 
tenant with fifty five Horse was immediately 
dispatched to Schenectady ; but no Care was 
taken to give the Mohawks Notice, which 
might have been done without much Danger, 
by sending up the South Side of the River, 
whilst the French marched on the North. 
The French, on the 8th at Night, reached the 
first Mohawk Castle, where there were only 
five Men, and some Women and Children in 
great Security, their other Men being all 
abroad, these were all taken without Opposi- 
tion. The next Fort not far from it was in 
like Manner surprized, without any Opposi- 
J81 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

tion, both of them were very small, and be- 
ing next tlie English, not fortified. 

Schenectady being the nearest English Set- 
tlement to the Mohawks, and but a little 
Way from their nearest Castle, many of them 
are always there. The Mohawks then in the 
Town were exceedingly enraged, that none 
went out to assist their Nation ; some were 
sent therefore out the next Day, to gain In- 
formation of the Enemy, and to give the 
Mohawks Notice ; but they returned without 
doing their Duty. 

The French went on to the next Mohawk 
Fort, which was the largest ; and coming to 
that in the Night, they heard some Noise, 
and suspected they were discovered: But 
this Noise was only occasioned by a War 
Dance, forty of the Indians designing to go 
next Day upon some Enterprize. The French 
approached the Castle silently, and finding 
the Indians no way on their Guard, opened 
the Gate, and entered before they were dis- 
covered; but notwithstanding this, and the 
Confusion the Indians must be in, this Con- 
quest was not without Loss of Blood, the 
French having lost thirty Men, before the In- 
dians entirely submitted: The French de- 
signed to have put them all to the Sword, but 
their own Indians would not suffer it, and 
gave Quarter : They took three hundred Pris- 
oners, of whom one hundred were fighting 
182 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Men. I have no Account of the Number of 
Mohawks killed, but no Doubt it was very 
considerable. 

When the Account came to Albany, how 
much the Mohawks, who were at Schenectady, 
were enraged, that no Assistance was sent to 
their Countrymen ; Peter Schuyler a Major 
of the Militia oifered himself to go with what 
Force could be got ready for their Assistance. 
He went himself immediately to Schenectady, 
and sent out to discover the Enemy : His 
Scouts brought him Intelligence, first, that the 
French were in Possession of the two small- 
est Forts, afteTwards, that they had heard 
great Firing at the largest Fort ; and at last, 
that it was taken. Having received 200 
Men, partly regular Troops, but most of the 
Militia, he began his March on the 12th in 
Quwst of the Enemy ; but hearing soon after, 
that six hundred Men of the upper Castles 
were on their March, 'tis probable he did not 
endeavor to be up with the French so soon as 
he might ; for I find by his Journal, that he 
was nearer them on the fourteenth, than he 
was two Days after. He had not sufficient 
Force to fight them : He sent therefore to the 
upper Indians, to hasten their March. On 
the 15th he was joined by these Indians, in 
all two hundred and ninety Men and Boys, 
very ill armed. His Body then consisted of 
two hundred and fifty Christians, and two 
183 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

hundred and ninety Indians, armed fighting 
Men. They had no other Provision but some 
Biscuit every Man had in his Pocket. On 
the 16th he was informed by an Indian, who 
pretended to be a Deserter, that the French 
had built a Fort, where they designed to wait 
for him, and fight him ; whereupon he sent 
an Express to Coll. Ingoldesby, then Com- 
mandant at Albany, to hasten more Men to 
join him, with sufficient Provision for the 
whole. He found afterwards, that this In- 
dian was sent by the French, on j^urpose to 
persuade the Indians to give over the Pursuit. 
Major Schuyler came up to the Enemy on the 
17th ; when he came near them he did not go 
on streight towards them, for Fear of Am- 
buscades, but marched round. As soon as he 
came in Sight, he was saluted with three loud 
Shouts, which were answered with as much 
Noise. The Indians began in their Manner 
to secure themselves, by felling the Trees be- 
tween them, and the Enemy sallied out to 
prevent them, but were soon beat back. The 
Indians fell to Work again, and desired the 
Christians to assist them, which was done, 
but in such confusion, that they themselves 
were in Danger from the falling Trees. The 
French sallied a second Time with all their 
Force, crying out. They run, we'll cut them 
off, and get their Provisions ; but they were 
warmly received, and beat back into their 
184 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Fort. They sallied a third Time, and were 
beat back with considerable Loss, the Indians 
bringing in several Heads and Scalps. As 
soon as the Skirmishing was over, the Major 
sent back an Express, to hasten the Men that 
were to reinforce him, and were to bring Pro- 
vision, some of the Men having had no Pro- 
vision for two Days. The Major then secured 
himself, under the Cover of the fallen Trees, 
and kept out Watches to observe the French. 
The 18th proving a cold stormy Day, with 
Snow, he was informed, by a Deserter, that 
the French were upon their March, it not 
being easy to follow their Tracks, or to dis- 
cover them in such Weather. The Officers 
were commanded to pursue and retard their 
March, till the Keinforcement should come 
up, but the Men refused to march without 
Provision. The Officers, with about 60 Men, 
and a Body of Indians, followed the Enemy 
till Night, when they began to secure them- 
selves, by fortifying their Camp. The Offi- 
cers wanting a sufficient Number to secure 
themselves in like Manner, or to fight the 
Enemy, returned, leaving about forty Chris- 
tians, and one hundred Indians, to observe 
them. On the 19th the Provisions, with 
about 80 Men, arrived, under the Command 
of Captain Sims of the regular Troops. 
Every Man, as he was served with Provisions, 
marched towards the Enemy. The Van was 
185 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

commanded by Captain Peter Matthews of 
the regular Troops, who coming up with the 
Enemy's Eear, wouhl have attacked them, to 
retard their March, but the Mohawks were 
averse to fighting. The French dropt on pur- 
pose several of their Prisoners, who told the 
Mohawks, that the French were resolved to 
put all the Prisoners to the Sword, if they 
should be attacked. The Enemy passed the 
North Branch of Hudson's River upon a 
Cake of Ice, which, very opportunely for 
them, stuck there in one Place, while it was 
open by a late Thaw, both above and below. 
The Weather continuing very cold, and the 
Indians averse to fighting, Major Schuyler 
gave over the Pursuit on the 20th, having lost 
only four private Men, and as many Indians, 
two Officers and twelve Men Christians and 
Indians were wounded. The French lost 
thirty three Men (the Bodies of twenty seven 
were found) of whom four were Officers, and 
twenty-six wounded, as the Deserters told 
him. Between forty and fifty Prisoners were 
recovered. I have been told, that Captain 
Matthews desired Coll. Schuyler, when he 
came first up Avith the French, to summon 
them to surrender ; he said, the French are in 
great Distress, and this will give them an 
Opinion of our Strength ; but Coll. Schuyler 
refused, tho' he was brave, he was no Soldier ; 
and it is very probable, that the French ob- 
186 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

serving the want of Contliict and Discipline, 
were encouraged. It is true, the English 
were in great Want of Provisions at that 
Time. The Indians eat the Bodies of the 
French that they found. Coll. Schuyler (as 
he told nie himself) going among the Indians 
at that Time, was invited to eat Broth with 
them, which some of them had ready boiled, 
which he did, till they, putting the Ladle into 
the Kettle to take out more, brought out a 
French Man's Hand, which put an End to his 
Appetite. 

The French went home as fast as they 
could carry their wounded jNIen with them ; 
but coming to a Place, where they had hid 
Provisions for their Supply in their return, 
they found it all spoiled. This put them in 
great Distress, so that they were forced to eat 
their Shoes ; they sent some of the nimblest 
Men forward to Montreal, that Provision 
might meet them. As soon as they came 
near the Settlements they dispersed, every 
Man running home to eat, so that they re- 
turned to Canada like an Army routed. The 
French own they lost eighty Men, and had 
thirty three wounded in this Expedition. 

One may wonder how it is possible for Men 
to march several hundred Miles in the Wil- 
derness, while the Ground is every where 
covered with Snow, two or three Feet deep 
at least ; but the foremost march on Snow 
187 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Shoes, which beat a firm Track for those that 
follow. At Kight, when they rest, they dig 
a Hole in the Snow, throwing the Snow up 
all round, but highest towards that Side from 
whence the Wind blows, so large, as to con- 
tain as many Men as can lye round a Fire : 
They make the Fire in the Middle, and cover 
the frozen Ground round it with the small 
Branches of the Fir-Trees. Thus they tell 
me a Man lyes much warmer, than one imag- 
ines that never tried it. 

When the Information of the French came 
to Schenectady, an Express was sent to New- 
York to Coll. Fletcher then (governor there ; 
the Express reached New-York, an hundred 
and fifty Miles from Albany, the 12th at ten 
in the Night. The Governor got the City 
Regiment under Arras by eight the next 
Morning, 

He called out to know who were willing to 
go with him to the Frontiers, they all imme- 
diately threw up their Hats, and answered 
one and all. Indeed the People of this Prov- 
ince have, upon all Occasions, shewn their 
Courage and Resolution in Defence of their 
Country ; but the Misfortune is, they are un- 
der no Discipline, and have been seldom led 
by Men that knew their Duty. The Gover- 
nor ordered an hundred and fifty Yoluntiers 
for this Service, and as many more from 
Long-Island. The River then happened to 
188 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

be open by a sudden Thaw, which does not, 
at that Time of the Year, happen once in 
twenty Years. He embarked three hundred 
Men in five Sloops, by four in the Afternoon 
of the 14th, and arrived at Albany the 17th 
at nine in the IVIorning. The same Day the 
Governor went to Schenectady, and ordered 
the Men to follow, but before they could get 
every Thing ready for their JMarch into the 
Woods, they had an Account, that Major 
Schuyler was upon his Keturn. Several Gen- 
tlemen of Albany, particularly Mr. Lanslear, 
a Gentleman of the best Estate there, went 
out Voluntiers under Major Schuyler, which 
T ought not to have forgot. 

Coll. Fletcher made a Speech to the Mo- 
hawks at Albany, he blamed their supine 
Negligence in suffering themselves to be sur- 
prised in the Manner they were in Time of 
War. He told them that they had Reason 
to be convinced, that the English were their 
Friends heartily, by the Number of Men he 
had marched to their Assistance in a very 
little Time, upon the first Notice. He prom- 
ised to wipe away their Tears in the Spring, 
by considerable Presents ; and that he would, 
in the mean while, take Care of their Subsist- 
ence, by providing Houses and Victuals for 
them. He told them, he doubted they had 
some false Brethren among them, that gave 
the French Information, and favoured their 
189 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Designs ; and in the last Place, advised them 
to convince the French, tliat they had not 
lost their Courage with this Misfortune. 

The Mohawks, in their Answer, called 
Coll. Fletcher by the Name of Cayenguirago ; 
and he was called so by the Indians always 
after this. It signifies a great swift Arrow, 
as an Acknowledgement of the Speed he made 
to their Assistance. But they apj^eared, in 
their Answer, to be quite disheartened ; they 
had not, in the Memory of any Man, received 
such a Blow. They said their Strength was 
quite broke, by the Continuance of the AVar ; 
but they added, if all the English Colonies 
would join, they could still easily take Can- 
ada : Their being so ill armed, was the Rea- 
son (they said) that the French had now es- 
caped. 

The French, continued they, arm their In- 
dians compleatly, and furnish them with 
every Thing necessary for War, as we find 
every Time we meet with them. 

The French had got a great Quantity of 
Furs, and other Peltry, at Missilimakinak, 
by their Trade with the Indians; but the 
Five Nations had so effectually blocked up 
the Passage between that and Canada, that 
they had remained there useless to the French 
for several Years. The Count de Frontenac, 
after his Success against the Mohawks, was 
in Hopes the Five Nations would keep more 
190 



FIVE IxXDIAN NATIONS, ifcc. 

at home in Defence of their own Castles, and 
with these Hopes sent a Lieutenant, with 
eighteen Canadians, and twenty praying In- 
dians, to open the Passage to Missilimaki- 
nak ; but this Party fell in with another of 
the Five Nations, who entirely routed them, 
so that a few escaped only, to give an Ac- 
count of their Misfortune ; at last 200 Canoes, 
loaded with Furs from Missilimakinak, ar- 
rived at Montreal, which gave as universal 
a Joy to Canada, as the Arrival of the Gal- 
leons give in Spain. 



CHAP. X. 

The Treaties and Negotiations the Five 
Nations had with the English and French, 
in the Years 1693 and 1694. 

A<^ by this Time the Reader may be tired 
with the horrid Scenes of a barbarous 
War, it may be some Relief to observe the 
Indian Genius in the Arts of negotiating; 
and see how a barbarous People, without any 
of the Arts and Sciences in which we value 
our selves, manage their Interest with the 
most learned, most polite, and artificial Na- 
tion in Europe. The Five Nations were in- 
formed, that the Governor, of Canada had 
received from Europe a very considerable 
191 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Recruit of Soldiers, and of all Sorts of Am- 
munition. This, with the great Loss the 
Mohawks had lately suffered, while they had 
been amused by the English with great 
Hopes, and very little real Assistance, made 
the Oneydoes, at last yield to the Solicita- 
tions of the Jesuit Milet, to send a Message 
to the French for Peace. It is probable he 
had the Art to influence the People at Albany 
to favour his Designs, by giving them Hopes 
of being included in the Peace, as may be 
conjectured, from what will aj^pear in the 
Sequel. 

Coll. Fletcher being informed, that the 
Oneydoes had sent a Messenger to Canada, 
sent for the Five Nations to Albany. He 
spoke to them the third of July 1693. 

He lirst excused his not meeting them as 
he had promised, at the Time the ap begins 
to run in the Trees, by Reason of his having 
received a Commission to be Governor of 
Pensilvania, to which Place he was obliged 
at that Time to go. He put them in Mind 
with what Speed he came to their Assistance 
last Winter, and how effectual, in all Proba- 
bility, it would have been, had they only re- 
tarded the Enemy's March till he could have 
reached them: He advised them to guard 
against being drunk, and shewed them the 
ill Consequences of it in Time of War. 

Then he said, "I have received Informa- 
193 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

tion, that some of the Brethren are wavering, 
and inclined to Peace with the Enemy ; and am 
assured, that such Thoughts must arise from 
the Instigation of the Jesuit Milet, whom 
some of the Brethren have suffered to live so 
long among them, and whose only Practice 
is to delude and betray them. Let me there- 
fore advise you to remove that ill Person from 
among you." 

In the End he condoled their Dead, and 
made them a very considerable Present of 
ninety Guns, eiglit hundred and ten Pound 
of Powder, eight hundred Bars of Lead, a 
Thousand Elints, eighty seven Hatchets, 
four Gross of Knives, besides a considerable 
Quantity of Cloathing and Provisions. This 
Present, he told them, their King and Queen 
had sent them, and renewed the Covenant 
for all the English Colonies. 

The King usually sends them a considera- 
ble Present with every new Governor sent to 
New-York, which is not always applied as it 
is designed. If this Present had been made 
sooner, it had been of much more Use to the 
English, as well as to the Five Nations. 

The Five Nations the next Day spoke as 
follows. 

Brother Cayenguirago, 

" We are involved in a bloody War, which 
makes us sit in Sorrow and Grief ; and being 
Vol. I.— 13 193 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

about to speak of Matters of Importance, we, 
ill the first Place, clear the Mouth and Throat 
of our Interpretess, by giving her these three 
Bever Skins. 

Then they repeated his Excellency's 
Speech, in Answer to which they said, 

" Brother Cayenguirago, we rejoice, that 
the great King and Queen of England tnk(^ 
such Notice of us, as we find, by the large 
Present sent us ; we return hearty Thanks 
for the Ammunition especially. 

" We are glad that our Brother Cayengui- 
rago renews the Chain, not only between us 
and this Government, but likewise with 
New-England, Virginia, Maryland, and 
Pensilvania; it shall be kept inviolable by 
us the Five Nations, as long as the Sun 
shines. We pray our Brother Cayenguirago 
to have a watchful Eye, that none of the 
other Colonies keep any Correspondence with 
the Enemy, but use their Endeavours to de- 
stroy them. We heard nothing of what 
you told us of the Priest Milet, who lives at 
Oneydo, till we came to this Town. We 
have enquired the Truth of our Brethren the 
Oneydoes, who confess, that the Priest sent 
an Indian to Canada with Letters, which has 
surprised us very much. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, you are our great 
Tree, whose Poots extend to the utmost 
Bounds of this Government ; we desire you 
104 



FIVE INDIAN NxiTIONS, &c. 

may not be disturbed when any of our Pris- 
oners misbehave, for they are not counte- 
nanced by us ; and all proper Methods shall 
be taken, to prevent the like for the future. 
In like Manner we beg you to take Care, 
that none of the Prisoners you have corre- 
spond Avith the Enemy, as we suspect the 
Chevalier U' 0. did; and that he was sent 
with Letters to Canada by some of our 
Brethren. (He made his Escape from Bos- 
ton.) 

"Brother Cayenguirago, In former Times 
our Propositions to one another were only 
Discourses of Peace and Friendship, and in 
giving Presents ; but how much is the Case 
altered of late? Now we talk of nothing 
but War, and are continually prompting one 
another to it. As to our Parts, we will keep 
close to the War to the last Drop of our 
Blood; and tho' we be tossed to and fro 
with Storms, we will remain stedfast to the 
last Man, as it was resolved by both in the 
Beginning of the War. 

"Brother Cayenguirago, we were told in 
our own Country, not only that the King had 
made you Governor of Pensilvania, but like- 
wise that you were preparing a Fleet to take 
Canada. 0! what joyful News this was to 
our young Men. Sadagarus, the great Seneka 
Captain, was to command them. Now they 
said, we need only make one hearty Push, 
195 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

while the Fleet is before Quebeck, Now 
there will be an End to this bloody War, 
and all our Troubles; But alas, now we are 
come here, we hear not one Word of this De- 
sign. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, you are that flour- 
ishing Tree that covers us; you keep the 
Chain bright; we have one Bequest to make 
to you, that you may stay with us, and not 
return to England ; for you know our Ways 
and Manners. If you have any Thing to tell 
the King and Queen, write it to them, for the 
King knows you to be a wise Man, and will 
therefore believe you. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, we are very glad 
to hear that Pensilvania is come under your 
Government, bring their young Men here, 
with their Bows and Arrows and Hatchets in 
their Hands, for this is the Place of Action. 
We are pleased that the Showonons or 
Satanas, who are our Enemies, have applied 
to you for Protection ; and that you sent 
them to us to endeavour a Peace, and that 
you sent Christians with them, to conduct 
them back again. We wish they were come 
to assist us against the common Enemy. 

"Brother Cayenguirago, now we have 
done, but must tell you again, that we roll 
and wallow in Joy, by Reason of the great 
Favour the great King and Queen has done 
us, in sending us Arms and Ammunition, at 
196 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

a Time when we are in the greatest Need of 
thein ; and because there is such Unity among 
the Brethren." 

They made the Governor a considerable 
Present of Furs, to shew their Eespect to 
his Person ; but they did not give one Belt 
to confirm any one Article ; so that the whole 
of it is, according to their Stile, only argu- 
mentative. 

Coll. Fletcher not being satisfied with their 
Answer, concernhig the Jesuit Milet, made 
this further Proposal to them. "As to Milet 
the Priest, whom the Brethren of Oneydo 
still harbour among them, I must tell you 
again, that he betrays you, and all your Coun- 
cils ; and that you may see I desire not to 
diminish your Number, I am willing to give 
you a pretty Indian Boy, in Lieu of the old 
Priest; and accordingly the Boy was brought 
and delivered to them. 

In answer to this the Oneydo Sachem said, 
"As soon as the Indian Messenger returns 
all his Papers shall be taken from him, and 
be forthwith brought to our Brother Cayen- 
guirago, before the Priest shall see any of 
them : we are willing to take the Boy in Ex- 
change for the Priest, but it is not safe to do 
it, while our Messenger is in the Power of 
the Enemy; let the Boy stay here till we 
bring the Priest, which shall be as soon as 
the Messenger shall return." But he gave 
197 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

no Belt, or other Present, to confirm this 
Promise. He added, 

"Brother Cayengiiirago, we now acquaint 
you that it is proposed by all the Five Na- 
tions, to make Peace with the Dionondadies, 
a Nation of Indians near in Alliance with the 
French of Canada. This will both strengthen 
us and weaken the Enemy. The Senekas, 
who live nearest them, have undertaken this 
Treaty, and take Belts of Wampum from the 
other Nations, to confirm the Peace. We 
desire your Approbation, that you would send 
your Belt in Concurrence, as our eldest 
Brother in our Chain." 

The Governor approved of this, and gave 
them a Belt to carry in his Name. 

Notwithstanding what the Speaker of the 
Five Nations had promised to the Governor, 
to bring all the Papers the Oneydo Messenger 
should bring from Canada, before the Jesuit 
Milet should have Liberty to see them, it 
could not be difficult for the Jesuit, to per- 
suade them to keep the Power of making 
Peace in their own Hands, and for that Pur- 
pose, to call a Meeting of the Sachems of 
Onondago, where all such Matters had been 
formerly transacted among themselves, and 
there to determine independently, rather than 
to submit themselves to another Nation at 
Albany. They only invited the English to 
assist at the general Council. The English 
198 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

used what Arguments they could to dissuade 
this Meeting, but rather to observe the Prom- 
ise made to the Governor; and it seems used 
some Threatning. The Mohawks had so 
much Regard to the English, they they re- 
fused to assist at the Council. The other 
four, notwithstanding this, met, and resolved 
on an Answer to be sent to the Governor of 
Canada; but at the same Time, to shew their 
Regard to the ]\Iohawks and English, these 
Resolutions were not to be final, till they 
should first be communicated to the English 
and Mohawks, and their Advice received 
thereon ; for which Purpose several Sachems 
were sent to Albany, of whom Decanesora 
was the Principal and the Speaker. 

Decanesora had for many Years the great- 
est Reputation among the Five Nations for 
speaking, and was generally employed as their 
Speaker, in their Negotiations with both 
French and English : He was grown old when 
I saw him, and heard him speak; he had a 
great Fluency in speaking, and a graceful 
Elocution, that would have pleased in any 
Part of the World. His Person was tall and 
well made, and his Features, to my thinking, 
resembled much the Bustos of Cicero. I shall 
give an Account of these Negotiations from 
Decanesora' s Mouth, because his Narration 
agrees in the main with the Account the 
French give of them, and carries along with 
199 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

it as strong Evidences of Truth, as that of 
the French do : but the chief Keason is, that 
I intend to give the Eeader as perfect a 
Notion as I can of the Indian Genius; and 
here it will appear, what Art Decanesorahad, 
to make an Account of an xiffair less disagree- 
able to English Ears, which had been under- 
taken against their Advice, and contrary to 
their Interest. 

Decanesora spoke to Major Schuyler 
(Quider) and the Magistrates of Albany, the 
second of February 1693-4 as follows. 

"Brother Cayenguirago,''^ we are come to 
acquaint you, that our Children the Oney- 
does having of themselves sent a Messenger 
to Canada, he has brought back with him a 
Belt of Peace from the Governor of Canada. 

"As soon as Tariha (the Messenger) ar- 
rived at Canada, he was asked, where the six 
hundred Men were that were to attack Can- 
ada, as they had been informed by Cariokese 
a Mohawk Deserter? He assured them there 
was no such Design. 

" He was carried to Quebeck, where he de- 
livered his Belt, with the following Proposi- 
tions. Onondio, if you would have Peace go to 
Albany, and ask it there, for the Five Na- 

* When the Affair of which they speak concerns 
the Government of New-York, the Indians always 
address themselves to the Governor, whether he be 
present or not. 

200 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

tions will do nothing without Cayenguirago. 
The Governor of Canada was angry at this, 
and said, he had nothing to do with the Gov- 
ernor of New-York, he would treat only with 
the Five Nations; the Peace between the 
Christians must be made on the other Side 
the great Lake. He added, he was sorry to 
see the Five Nations so far degenerated, as 
to take a sixth Nation into their Chain, to 
rule over them. If you had desired me to 
come and treat in any of your Castles, I 
would have done it ; but to tell me I must go 
to Albany, is to desire of me what I can by 
no Means do. You have done very ill, to 
suffer tlie People of New- York to govern you 
so far, that you dare do nothing without their 
Consent. I advise you to send two of each 
Nation to me, and let Decanesora be one of 
them. I have Orders from the King my Mas- 
ter to grant you Peace, if you come in your 
proper Persons to ask it. The Governor of 
Canada afterwards said, 

"Children of the Five Nations, I have 
Compassion for your little Children, there- 
fore come speedily, and speak of Peace to me, 
otherwise I'll stop my Ears for the future : 
By all Means let Decanesora come ; for if the 
Mohawks come alone, I will not hear them, 
some of all the Five Nations must come. 
Now Tariha return home, and tell the Five 
Nations, that I will wait for their coming till 
201 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the Trees bud, and the Bark can be parted 
from the Trees. I design for France in the 
Spring, and I leave a Gentleman to command 
here, to whom I have given Orders to raise 
Soldiers, if you do not come in that Time, 
and then what will become of you? I am 
truly grieved to see the Five Nations so de- 
bauched and deceived by Cayenguirago, who 
is lately come to New- York, and by Quider. 
Formerly the chief Men of the Five Nations 
used to converse with me ; but this Governor 
of New- York has so deluded you, that you 
hearken to none but him ; but take Care of 
what will follow, if you hearken to none but 
him." 

Then Decanesora excused the not sending 
the Letters to Albany, which came by Tariha, 
as they had promised, saying, the other Na- 
tions trusted this to the Oneydoes, because 
the Messenger was to return to them, and the 
Oneydoes deceived the others. He likewise 
excused their not coming to Albany as soon 
as Tariha returned, which was in November. 
He said the chief Sachem of the Onondagas, 
who was entrusted (as their Speaker) by the 
Five Nations with their general Affairs, by 
the general Council of Onondaga, had a sore 
Leg, and could not travel.* That in such 
Case he (Decanesora) did all that was in his 

*This, in the Indian Idiom, signifies a trifling ex- 
cuse of an unwilling person. 
203 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, «fec. 

Power, that is, he called a Council at Onon- 
daga, to give Directions in this Affair ; and 
that he invited Quider to this Council. He 
continued, 

" The four Nations that met there resolved 
to send Deputies to Canada, and that I De- 
canesora was to be one of them ; but at the 
same Time ordered me, with some others, to 
communicate the Kesolutions of the General 
Council to our Brethren at Albany, and to 
the Mohawks, to be farther advised by them. 

" The Eesolutions are, to send three Belts 
to the Governor of Canada, with the follow- 
ing Propositions. 

" I. Onondio, you have sent for me often, 
and as often asked, why I am afraid to come? 
The great Kettle of War that you have hung 
over the Fire is the Keason of it. Then 
laying down the first Belt, I am to ask his 
Consent to the other two Belts which I still 
keep in my Hand. 

"II. We now not only throw down the 
Kettle, and thereby throw the boiling Water 
out of it, but likewise break it to Pieces, that 
it may never be hanged up again by this sec- 
ond Belt. 

"III. Hearken, Onondio, you are sent 
from the French King, your Master, as Cayen- 
guirago is from the great King and Queen of 
England. What I am now about to speak to 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

you, is by Inrspira-tion from the great God of 
Heaven. You say that you will have nothing 
to do with our Brethren of Cayenguirago, 
but I must tell you, that we are inseparable, 
we can have no Peace with you so long as 
you are at War with them ; we must stand 
and fall with them ; which I am to confirm, 
by laying down the third Belt. 

" When this was concluded the Jesuit 
Milet, and another French Gentleman (who 
had been taken Prisoner, and was taken into 
the Place of the chief Sachem of Onondaga, 
formerly lost in the War, and thereby be- 
came a Sachem) desired Leave to add two 
Belts to the other three. By their being 
Sachems they had a Vote in the General 
Council, and a Right to propose any Thing. 
They wrote and read to us the Purports of 
their Belts, and we have brought their Papers 
with us, to shew to our Brethren." 

To shew the Necessity they were under of 
making Peace, speedily he added : 

" That two Women, who were Prisoners at 
Canada, had made their Escape, on Purpose 
to inform them that the French were making 
great Preparations of Battoes, and other Nec- 
essaries for an Expedition ; one said, she had 
informed one of the Sachems of the Prayirg 
Indians of her Design, who sent an Indian 
with her to advise the Five Nations, to pre- 
204 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

vent the great Danger they were threatened 
with by a speedy Conclusion of the Peace ; 
and added, that they had sent one of their 
Peoph^ back with this Praying Indian, to as- 
sure th(nn that Deputies would certainly go 
to Canada in the Spring to treat of Peace." 
I make no Doubt, this was only an Article 
to hasten the Five Nations to conclude the 
Peace, lest the English, if it were delayed, 
should find Means to prevent it. Then he 
shewed the Flag which the Governor of Can- 
ada sent them to be carried by their Deputies, 
that the French might know them. Upon 
these Resolutions being taken, the Five Na- 
tions recalled six hundred Men, that they had 
placed along Cadarackui River, to intercept 
the French, as they passed to and from Mis- 
silimakinak. 

The Jesuit's Papers being read to them, 
several Things were found in them which he 
had not read to the General Council. To 
this Decanesora answered; "We know that 
the Priest favours his own Nation, and de- 
ceives us in many Things ; but it is not in 
his Power to alter our Affection to our Breth- 
ren, we wish you would bury all Misunder- 
standings that you have conceived on his Ac- 
count ; and we likewise wish you gave less 
Credit to the Rum-Carriers than you do." 
Here we see, by this Appellation, what a con- 
temptible Character the Traders have among 
205 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the Indians, and yet the Government of New- 
York has almost perpetually trusted the Man- 
agement of the Indian Affairs to these 
Traders. 

Decanesora ended his Conference as fol- 
lows: "The Governor of Canada's Words, 
and the Eesolutions of the four Nations are 
now before you, consult therefore what is to 
be done, and if it be necessary for the Breth- 
ren to go to our Castles to advise us farther, 
be not unwilling ; and then he laid down a 
large Belt eleven Rows deep, and seven 
Fathom of Wampum." 

The next Day Major Schuyler told them 
that he could consent to no Treaty with the 
French ; but proposed to them to meet the 
Governor here in seventy Days, and that 
Decanesora in particular should return at that 
Time, and gave a Belt. 

They agreed to meet the Governor at that 
Time; "But as for myself (says Decanesora) 
I cannot promise ; I am now the Minister of 
the General Council, and cannot dispose of 
myself, but by their Directions ; if they order 
me, I shall willingly return. We did not 
expect to hear such positive Prohibition of 
keeping any Correspondence with the French ; 
seventy Days must pass before we meet 
again, if any Mischief be done by the Enemy 
in that Time, let us not blame one another. 
Consider again what is most for the publick 
206 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, «&c. 

Good, and let it be spoken before we part, 
and laid down a large Belt of fourteen deep." 

Major Schuyler then asked them again, 
whether they promised to stop all Corre- 
spondence with the French, either by the 
Jesuit or otherwise, for seventy Days, and 
till they shall have his Excellency the Gov- 
ernor's Answer. 

Decanesora answered to this, " I have no 
Authority to answer this Question, I shall 
lay the Belt down in every one of the Castles, 
and tell, that by it all Correspondence is 
desired to stop with the French ; but I can- 
not promise that this will be complied with." 

Major Schuyler on the sixth called the 
Indians again together : He advised them not 
to submit to, nor trust such a perfidious 
Nation as the French are, who have upon all 
Occasions proved themselves such. Be not 
discouraged, (says he, giving a Belt) Heaven 
begins again to favour us. This Day the 
Forerunners of the Shawonons are come to 
Town, seven Nations are on their March fol- 
lowing them, one Thousand in Number, in- 
cluding Men, Women and Children, as you 
may learn from their own Mouths. Take 
Courage, and be not afraid, giving five 
Fathom of Wampum. This seemed a lucky 
Incident, and accordingly it had more Influ- 
ence than all other Arguments together. 
807 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Decanesora, the next Day, called the Mag- 
istrates together, and told them, you have at 
last shut up the Way to Canada, but we have 
one Thing to ask, after mature Deliberation, 
which we expect will not be refused us. 
Major Schuyler assured them that every 
Thing should be granted, which was either 
for their Safety or Honour. We desire then, 
said he, that you send a Messenger along 
with ours to the Praying Indians at Canada, 
to tell them that the Priest is false ; that we 
are to meet Cayenguirago in the Spring, and 
therefore cannot go to Canada at that Time ; 
and that a further Cessation of Arms be 
agreed to, till such Time as we can go. We 
desire at least, that if you will not send a 
Messenger, that you put the Message in Wri- 
ting, as a Token of your Assent to it. This 
last was agreed to, and the Message was put 
in W^riting in the following Words, and trans- 
lated into French. 

The Dispatch of three Belts, which two 
Messengers of the Five Nations carry to the 
Caraguists and Catholick Indians, accordmg 
to what was resolved by the Agayandres or 
Sachems of the Five Nations, at Albany, 
February the ninth 1694. 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 



First Belt, 

The Agayan clues of the Five Nations can- 
not go to Canada in the Spring, as they gave 
Keason to expect by the last Message from 
Onondaga, because Cayenguirago has called 
all the Five Nations, and other Indians, to 
meet him at Albany, in the Month of April 
next, to which the Five Nations have agreed. 

Second Belt. 

If the Caraguists, or French, have any 
Thing to propose to the Five Nations, they 
may safely come into our Country. This 
Belt opens the Path, and secures it to them 
both coming and going. 

Third Belt, 

The Five Nations, and their Friends, lay 
down the Hatchet till they shall have an 
Answer, which they expect in forty Days. 
Provided nevertheless, that the Caraguists 
and French tye their Hatchets down at the 
same Time. 

These Belts were accordingly presented to 
the Praying Indians of Cahnuaga, who re- 
fused to receive them but in the Presence of 
Mr. de Callieres, Governor of Montreal. Mr. 
Vol. I.— 14 209 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

de Callieres acquainted the Count de Fronte- 
nac with the Contents. After which the 
Praying Indians, in presence of Mr. de Cal- 
lieres, gave the following Answer. 

" We will have no Correspondence with the 
Five Nations, but by Order of the Governor 
of Canada our Father, and unless Decanesora, 
and the other Deputies, come before the Feast 
of St. John, the Way will be shut up for 
ever after, and our Father's Ears will be 
stopt. We however assure you, that if the 
Deputies come in that Time the Path shall 
be safe both coming and going." 

Whether the Accounts given of the coming 
of the Shawonons was only an Amusement, 
or whether they were diverted on their 
March, I know not, for I find no farther 
Account of them in the Register of the In- 
dian Affairs: However it was, the Impres- 
sion, made on the Indians by that News, was 
not sufficient to withstand the Force of the 
resolute Answer their Messenger received 
from the Praying Indians. Decanesora and 
the other Deputies went early in the Spring 
to Canada; the other Sachems met Colonel 
Fletcher at Albany, the fourth of May 1694. 
The Indians spoke first by Sadakanahtie, an 
Onondaga Sachem, as follows : 
210 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS. &c. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, 

" Some of our Sachems agreed last Winter 
that we should keep no Correspondence with 
the French; we confess that we have broke 
that Promise, and that we have received a 
Messenger from Canada, and have sent our 
Deputies likewise thither. The Belt is not 
yet arrived, by which we are to acknowledge 
our fault in doing this. The Reason of our 
doing it is truly this, we are afraid of the 
Enemy. 

" When a Messenger came last Year from 
Canada to Onondaga, our Brother Cayengui- 
rago discharged our Meeting in General Coun- 
cil at Onondaga, to consult on that Message, 
and ordered us to hold our General Council 
here at Albany on that Affair. The Privi- 
lege of meeting in General Council, when we 
please, is a Privilege we always have enjoyed ; 
no former Governor, of the Name of Corlear, 
ever obstructed this Privilege. We planted 
a Tree of Peace in this Place with them, its 
Roots and Branches extend as far as Vir- 
ginia and New-England, and we have reposed 
with Pleasure under its Shade. Brother, let 
us keep to that first Tree, and let us be 
united and unanimous ; such Prohibition of 
our Assemblies will be of ill Consequence, 
and occasion Differences between us. 

" We acknowledge, I say, our sending 
Agents to Canada for Peace, we were incour- 
211 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

aged in doing this, by the Knowledge we 
have of the Governor of Canada. He is an 
old Man, and was formerly Governor of that 
Place. He was always esteemed a wise 
peaceable Man, and therefore we trust our 
Message will have a good issue. We did not 
take it amiss that you sent to the Dewagun- 
has, nor that Am out was sent to the Satanas, 
both of them our Enemies ; and, for the same 
Reason, our Brother Cayenguirago ought not 
to be displeased with our sending to the 
French for Peace. 

" We, Onondagas, acknowledge ourselves 
to have been the chief Promoters of this Mes- 
sage, we have sent in all nine Sachems with 
nine Belts. It is true we are now under 
much Uneasiness in having trusted so many 
Sachems in the French Hands, being almost 
half the Number we have in our Nation, but 
we were in haste to prevent the Designs the 
French had against our Countries and yours, 
by the great warlike Preparations they were 
making in Canada." 

Then he told all the Orders and Directions 
which their Ambassadors had received ; which 
agreeing with the Account which Decanesora 
gave of his Negotiation, I shall here pass 
over. He finished all by giving a Belt. 

Colonel Fletcher told them, he would give 
no Answer to what they had said, before they 
discovered to him what Eeason they had to 
212 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

say, that he had forbid their hokling any As- 
sembly at Onondaga, and that he had made 
Peace with the Dewagunhas and Satanas, 
without their Consent and Concurrence. 

To this the Speaker the next Day answered ; 
" I was sick, and absent when the Affairs you 
mention were transacted, and I was at a 
Loss how to excuse our sending to the French 
contrary to your Advice ; but several Sachems 
being arrived since I spoke, I have been bet- 
ter informed by them, who were present at 
those Transactions. We find it, in every 
Circumstance, as our Brother Cayenguirago 
says ; that you did not obstruct our keeping 
General Councils at Onondaga, but only cau- 
tioned us in hearkening to the Fallacies of 
the French, and in holding Meetings on that 
Occasion. We assure you we will never sep- 
arate from you, we still have one Head, one 
Blood, one Soul, and one Heart with you; 
and as a Confirmation of this I give this Belt 
seven deep. 

"As to the Dewagunhas and Shawonons, 
we are confident Cayenguirago will not admit 
them into his Government, till they have 
made Peace with us, which we shall willingly 
grant. When our Enemies are humbled, and 
beg Peace, why should they not have it? Let 
them come and live with us, it will strengthen 
our Country. 

"Brother Cayenguirago, when the Chris- 
213 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

tians first arrived in this Country, we re- 
ceived them kindly. When they were but a 
small People, we entered into a League with 
them, to guard them from all Enemies what- 
soever. We were so fond of their Society, 
that we tied the great Canoe which brought 
them, not with a Eope made of Bark to a 
Tree, but with a strong iron Chain fastened 
to a great Mountain. Now before the Chris- 
tians arrived, the General Council of the Five 
Nations was held at Onondaga, where there 
has, from the beginning, a continual Fire been 
kept burning; it is made of two great Logs, 
whose Fire never extinguishes. As soon as 
the Hatchet-makers (their general Name for 
Christians) arrived, this General Council at 
Onondaga planted this Tree at Albany, whose 
Eoots and Branches have since spread as far 
as New-England, Connecticut, Pensilvania, 
Maryland and Virginia ; and under the Shade 
of this Tree all these English Colonies have 
frequently been sheltered. Then (giving 
seven Fathom of Wampum) he renewed the 
Chain, and promised, as they likewise ex- 
pected, mutual Assistance, in Case of any 
Attack from any Enemy. 

" The only Keason, to be plain with you, 
continued he, of our sending to make Peace 
with the French, is the low Condition to 
which we are reduced, while none of our 
Neighbours send us the least Assistance, so 
214 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

that the whole Burthen of the War lyes on 
us alone. Our Brethren of New-England, 
Connecticut, Pensilvania, Maryland and Vir- 
ghiia, of their own accord thrust their Arms 
into our Chain; but since the War began we 
have received no Assistance from them. We 
alone cannot continue the War against the 
French, by Beason of the Eecruits they daily 
receive from the other Side the great Lake. 

"Brother Cayenguirago, speak from your 
Heart, are you resolved to prosecute the War 
vigorously against the French, and are your 
Neighbours of Virginia, Maryland, Pensil- 
vania, Connecticut and New-England, re- 
solved to assist us? If it be so, we assure 
you, notwithstanding any Treaty hitherto en- 
tered into, we will prosecute the War as hotly 
as ever. But if our Neighbours will not as- 
sist, we must make Peace, and we submit it 
to your Consideration, by giving this great 
Belt fifteen deep. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, I have truly told 
you the Eeasons which have induced us to 
offer Peace to the French ; we shall likewise, 
from the Bottom of our Hearts, inform you 
of the Design we have in this Treaty. When 
the Governor of Canada shall have accepted 
the nine Belts, of which I have just now told 
you, then we shall have something more to 
say by two large Belts, which lye still hid in 
our Bosom. We shall lay down first one and 
215 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

say, We have a Brother Cayenguirago, with 
whose People we have been uuitecl in one 
Chain from the Beginning, they must be in- 
cluded in this Treaty ; we cannot see them 
involved in bloody War, while we sit in easy 
Peace. If the Governor of Canada answer, 
that he has made a separate Peace with us, 
and that he cannot make any Peace with 
Cayenguirago, because the War is from over 
the great Lake; then we shall lay down the 
second great broad Belt, and tell the Gov- 
ernor of Canada, if you will not include 
Cayenguirago' s People, the Treaty will be- 
come thereby void, as if it had never been 
made ; and if he persists, we will absolutely 
leave him." 

AVhile the Sachems were at Albany, Deca- 
nesora and the other Ambassadors arrived at 
the Castle of the Praying Indians, near the 
Falls above Montreal. They were conducted 
from thence, by the Superior of the Jesuits, 
to Quebeck. They had their Audience of the 
Governor of Canada with great Solemnity, in 
the Presence of all the Ecclesiasticks and 
Officers of Distinction, and of the most con- 
siderable Indians then in the Place. They 
were every Day, while they staid in the 
Place, entertained at the Governor's Table, 
or at the Tables of the most considerable 
Officers. Decanesora on his Side made a 
good Appearance, being cloathed in Scarlet 
216 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

trim'd with Gold, and with a laced Bever 
Hat on his Head, which had been given him 
by Colonel Fletcher before he went. 

The Jesuit Milet had by Letter informed 
the Governor of every Thing in their Com- 
mission, and though he was thereby enabled 
to have answered them immediately, he con- 
sulted three Days, after the Ambassadors had 
delivered what they had to say, before he 
would return an Answer, that it might ap- 
pear with more Solemnity. The Indians 
never return a sudden Answer on any Occa- 
sion of Importance, however resolved they be 
beforehand, and despise those that do, though 
their Answer be never so much to the Pur- 
pose. I choose to give an Account of this 
from Decanesora's Mouth, as I did of the 
former, and for the same Eeason. The Ac- 
count given of it by the Indians agrees, in 
all the material Points, with that published 
by the French, and I am confident it is not 
less genuine. 

Colonel Fletcher being sensible of what 
Consequence this Treaty between the French 
and Five Nations might be of to all the Eng- 
lish Colonies, gave them Notice of it, and in- 
formed them of the Eeasons which had in- 
duced the Indians to enter into it. He told 
them, there was no Possibility of preventing 
it, but by the Indians being assured of more 
effectual Assistance, then they had hitherto 
317 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

received, and advised them to send Commis- 
sioners for that Purpose to Albany in August, 
at which Time he intended to meet the Five 
Nations there, after the Eeturn of their Mes- 
sengers from Canada. Acciordingly, Andrew 
Hamilton, Esq; Governor of New- Jersey, 
Colonel John Pinchon, Samuel Sands, Esq; 
and Major Pen Townsend, Commissioners 
from Massachuset's Bay, and Colonel John 
Hauley and Captain Stanley, Commissioners 
from Connecticut, waited on Colonel Fletcher 
at Albany, who carried with him likewise a 
Part of the Council of New-York. 

These Gentlemen having met the Indians 
at Albany the fifteenth of August, Decane- 
sora rose up first, and desired Leave to sing 
a Song or two of Peace, before they began on 
Business. Then Rode, a Mohawk Sachem, 
rose up, and addressing himself to the other 
Sachems, said, we have great Reason to re- 
joice, seeing so many of those, who are in 
our Chain, are now met, to consult together 
on the general Weal ; after which they sang 
two or three Songs. 

Sadakanahtie being chosen Speaker for 
that Day, rose up, spoke much to the same 
Purpose as he had done to Colonel Fletcher 
in May last ; giving a metaphorical Account 
of their League with the English, how it 
began, and by what Steps it had been in- 
larged and strengthened ; how the other Col- 
218 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

onies had thrust their Arms into this Chain, 
but had given little or no Assistance against 
the common Enemy. " Our Brother Cayen- 
guirago's Arms (says he) and ours are stiff, 
and tired with holding fast the Chain, whilst 
our Neighbours sit still and smoak at their 
Ease. The Fat is melted from our Flesh, 
and fallen on our Neighbours, who grow fat 
while we grow lean : They flourish while we 
decay. 

"This Chain made us the Envy of the 
French, and if all had held it as fast as 
Cayenguirago, it would have been a Terror 
also. If we would all heartily join and take 
the Hatchet in our Hand, our common Enemy 
would soon be destroyed, and we should for 
ever after live in Peace and Ease. Do you 
but your Parts, and Thunder itself cannot 
break our Chain." 

Then he mentioned some Jealousies they 
had entertained of New-England, by their 
suffering the Chevalier D'O to escape to Can- 
ada, Avhich they suspected had been concerted 
between him and the People of New-England, 
in Order to treat of Peace. "Our Agents, 
said he, saw the Chevalier D'O at Canada, 
who told them that he had been set at Lib- 
erty by the English, and that it was in vain 
that the Five Nations warred against the 
French, while the English favoured them." 
On this Occasion he shewed them a Fish 
219 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

painted on Paper, which the Commissioners 
of New-England had given them, when they 
first entered into the Chain, as a Seal to the 
League. 

He finished by telling them, that they 
would next Day give all the Particulars of 
their Negotiation in Canada. 

The next Day Decanesora proceeded to the 
Account of his Negotiation, as follows: 
" The Governor of Canada having often sent 
to us to come to Canada to treat with him, 
we went thither, and told him that we were 
come to treat of Peace. We made the fol- 
lowing Proposals. 

"Father, if we do not conclude a Peace 
now, it will be your Fault ; for we have al- 
ready taken the Hatchet out of the Hands of 
the Eiver Indians (Hudson's River) whom 
we incited to the War. But we must tell 
you, that you are an ill Man, you are incon- 
stant and not to be trusted; we have had 
War together a long Time, and though you 
occasioned the War, we never hated the 
House of Oghessa, (a Gentleman living at 
Montreal) let him undertake the toilsome 
Journey to Onondaga ; for if he will he shall 
be welcome. 

"Father, we are now speaking of Peace, 

and therefore I must speak a Word to the 

Praying Indians, and first to those of Cah- 

naaga (chiefly Mohawks) you know our Cus- 

220 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

toms and Manners, therefore make Onondio 
acquainted therewith, and be assisting in the 
prosecuting of this good Work. Then to the 
other Castle, called Canassadaga, (chiefly 
Onondagas) you are worse than the French 
themselves, you deserted from us, and side 
with our Enemies to destroy us ; make some 
amends now, by forwarding Peace. 

" You have almost eat us up, our best Men 
are killed in this bloody War ; but we now 
forget what is past. Before this we once 
threw the Hatchet into the River of Kaiho- 
hage,* but you fished it up, and treacher- 
ously surprised our People at Cadarackui. 
After this you sent to us to have our Prison- 
ers restored ; then the Hatchet was thrown 
up to the Sky, but you kept a String fastened 
to the Helve, and pulled it down, and fell 
upon our People again. This we revenged to 
some Purpose, by the Destruction of your Peo- 
ple and Houses in the Island of Montreal. 

" Now we are come to cover the Blood from 
our Sight, which has been shed by both Sides 
during this long War. 

" Onondio, we have been at War a long 
Time, we now give you a Medicine to drive 
away all ill Thoughts from your Heart, to 
purge it and make it clean, and restore it to 
its former State. 

*The French call it la Famine, near Ohswego. 
The Treaty with Mr. de la Bar was made there. 
321 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

"Onondio, we will not permit any Settle- 
ment at Caclarackui ; you have had your Fire 
there thrice extinguished ; we will not con- 
sent to your rebuilding that Fort, but the 
Passage through the River shall be free and 
clear. We make the Sun clean, and drive 
away all Clouds and Darkness, that we may 
see the Light without Interruption. 

" Onondio, we have taken many Prisoners 
from one another, during the War. The 
Prisoners we took have been delivered, ac- 
cording to our Custom, to the Families that 
have lost any in the War. They no longer 
belong to the Publick, they may give them 
back if they please, your People may do the 
same. We have brought back two Pris- 
oners, and restore them to you. 

" After I had finished what I had to say, 
continued he, the Governor of Canada told 
me, that he would not make Peace with 
Cayenguirago. To this I answered, these 
Words displease me much, you shall keep 
Peace with him. Onondio said again, I 
must fight with Cayenguirago, it is not in 
my Power to make Peace ; this can only be 
done by my Master, who lives over the great 
Water. To this I replied, I cannot bear this 
Discourse ; if you should fight him now, and 
not stay till T get Home, all the Country 
will look on me as a Traytor ; I can treat 
with you no longer. The Argument on this 
222 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Subject lasted three Days, at last the Gov- 
ernor of Canada assured nie, that he would 
not undertake any Enterprize against Cayen- 
guirago this Summer, but would wait to hear 
what he wou'd say. 

"The Governor of Canada insisted three 
Days to have Hostages left, which I refused, 
but two agreeing of their own accord to stay, 
they were left, viz. one an Onondago, another 
a Seneka. 

" Then the Governor of Canada made the 
folio whig publick Answer : 

" I. I accept of Peace as you offer. 

"II. Son, bring all the Prisoners back 
that you have taken from me, and yours 
shall have Liberty to return Home, if they 
please. 

"III. Children, erect my Fire again at 
Cadarackui, and plant there the Tree of 
Peace. 

"After this the Governor of Canada de- 
livered me a Belt, which I now lay down be- 
fore you ; by it he said, desire Cayenguirago 
to send a wise Man to me, and he shall have 
Protection according to the Custom of Chris- 
tians ; and added, 

"Children of the Five Nations, if Cayen- 
guirago shall employ you to do any Service 
for him, do not accept of it, let him send his 
223 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

own People." Decanesora added, that the 
Governor of Canada had fixed eighty Days 
for a Return to tliis Belt. 

He continued and said, "The Sachems of 
the Dionondadies were present ; after I had 
finished my Speech, they said; ]\Iay what 
you have now said be from your Hearts ; we 
suspect you are not sincere ; let us no longer 
feel the Smart of tlie Hatchet, and gave this 
Belt which I now lay down. 

" The Praying Indians next said. Brethren, 
our Father Oncmdio has told you to bring 
Home all the Prisoners, do not fail in this; 
giving two Belts. 

" Brother Cayenguirago, you will find what 
I have noAv said confirmed by this Paper, 
which the Governor of Canada gave me. I 
brought Letters likewise for the Jesuit jMilet, 
who was to read the Paper to us." The 
Paper contained the Articles in French, in 
which the Governor of Canada was willing to 
make Peace. 

But besides what Decanesora here tells, 
the French Accounts say, that he brought 
two Belts underground (that is privately) 
from three Onondaga Sachems, to assure the 
Governor of Canada of their particular Affec- 
tion, which the Governor of Canada answered, 
by a private Belt to them. 

As soon as Decanesora had done speaking. 
Colonel Fletcher rejected the Belt sent by the 
224 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Governor of Canada, saying; If the Gov- 
ernor of Canada have any Thing to say to 
me, let him send some of his People to 
Albany, and they shall have Protection. 

Next Day Sadekanahtie, after he had sung 
a long Song, gave the following Account of 
tlieir Negotiations with the Dewagunhas and 
Dionondadies, which they had undertaken by 
the Governor's Advice. 

" We were afraid, says he, to send Messen- 
gers of our own People, and therefore we 
employed two Prisoners we had of the Dio- 
nondadies with the Governorjs Belt. Some 
time after this, some of the Senekas hunting 
near the Dionondadies, two of them were 
taken ; but when they were carried to the 
Dionondadie Castle, they were not treated 
like Prisoners ; they were used kindly, and 
sent back with the following Offers of Peace. 

"We are glad to see you Face to Face to 
speak to you, si-ice the Sun has been so pro- 
pitious to send home the men that were 
Prisoners with you, giving a few Strings 
of Wampum. 

"We are glad of this Opportunity to tell 
you, that we have been both drunk in mak- 
ing War on one another ; w^e now give you a 
Cordial to ease your Hearts, that there be no 
longer War between us, by this Belt. 

" We are glad that you have set the Doors 
opf n as far as Cayenguirago's House, that 
Vol. I.— 15 225 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

we may freely go thither. Carry him this 
second Belt. 

"Brethren, we thank you for having pre- 
pared a Place for us at your General Council of 
Onondaga. Our Country is every where free 
to you to treat with us, by this third Belt. 

"Brethren, our whole Country rejoiced 
when you invited us into your Country, and 
from thence to go where Cayenguirago 
dwells ; be not afraid to come to our Coun- 
try, you shall meet with no Molestation. 

" Brethren, we thank you for putting us in 
Mind of what was formerly agreed to, viz. 
that when any ill Accident happens, we were 
to meet togethei- to compose Matters, and not 
to revenge it with War. We are now to- 
gether to put an End to all Misunderstanding, 
by this fourth Belt. 

"Brethren, (we include all the Nations 
from the Senekas Country to New-York in 
this Name) hearken to us. We rend the 
Clouds asunder, and drive away all Darkness 
from the Heavens, that the Sun of Peace 
may shine with Brightness over ns all ; giv- 
ing a Sun of a round red polished Stone. 

"Brethren, we put the Hatchet into the 
Hands cf the Chightaghies, Twithtwies, and 
Odsirachies, to war against you ; but we shall 
in three Days go to these Nations and take 
the Hatchet out of their Hands ; giving half 
a Stone Pipe. 

226 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

"You Senekas are stupid Creatures, we 
must therefore warn you not to hunt so far 
from your Castles, lest you be hurt by any of 
these three Nations, and then blame us. 
They then gave the other half of the Pipe. 

"But Brother Cayenguirago, says Sadakah- 
nitie, do not suffer these Nations to come 
nearer than the Senekas Country, lest they 
discover our Weakness, and to what a low 
Condition the War has reduced us These 
nations have been so long in Friendship with 
the French, and are so much under their In- 
fluence, that we cannot trust them yet, or be 
too much upon our Guard against them." 

Colonel Fletcher not being able to give the 
Five Nations any Assurance of a vigorous 
Assistance, he called the principal Sachems 
to a private Conference on the twentieth. 
He asked them, whether they had made 
Peace with the Governor of Canada; they 
answered, that it only wanted his Approba- 
tion, and added, that they could no longer 
carry on the War without Assistance. You 
have the whole Negotiations before you, say 
they, and we submit it to your Prudence. 

He then allowed them to make Peace, pro- 
vided they kept faithful in their Chain with 
the English ; but told them, that as to his 
Part he could make no Peace with the Gov- 
ernor of Canada. They were under great 
Uneasiness to leave their Friends in the War, 
227 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

they said, and wished, since neither the Gov- 
ernor of Canada nor he would receive Propo- 
sals by their Hands, that they might think 
of some neutral Place to treat. The Gov- 
ernor answered, that he could neither receive 
nor send any INIessage on that Head ; and that 
Peace could be only made between them by 
the two Kings. 

The Governor next asked them, whether 
they would permit the French to build again 
at Cadarackui; they answered, they would 
never permit it, and were resolved to insist 
on it, in all the ensuing Treaties, that he 
never shall. Then the Governor added, if 
you permit the French to build any where on 
that Lake, tliere will be an End to your 
Liberty, your Posterity will become Slaves to 
the French. If ever you should permit them, 
I will look on it as an absolute Breach of the 
Chain with us : If the French attempt it give 
me Notice, and I will march the whole Force 
of my Government to your Assistance. We 
shall find afterwards, however, that the Gov- 
ernment of New York was far from making 
good this Promise. 

The Governor told them, that they had 
lost much of their Honour in creeping to the 
French, in such an abject Manner; for, says 
he, the Governor of Canada's Paper, which 
you brought with you, says, that you came 
in the most humble and penitent Manner, 
228 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

and begged Peace. To which they answered, 
the Governor of Canada has no Reason to 
make such Eeflexions, we have many of his 
Belts to shew, by which he again and again 
sued to us for Peace, before we would hearken 
to him. But, i-ejilies the Governor, how 
came you to call him Father? For no other 
Beason, they replied, but because he calls us 
Children. These Names signify nothing. 

They desired the Governor not to say any 
Thing particularly of Cadarackui, in his pub- 
lick Speech that he was to make next Day, 
for they had, they said, some among them 
that would tell all to the Governor of Can- 
ada; and concluded, with wishing that they 
had some one, who could write and read 
all that the Governor had said to them, that 
they might not forget any Part of it, when 
they come to consult and resolve on this 
weighty Affair, at their General Council at 
Onondaga. 

Here we see these Barbarians, these Sav- 
ages, as we call them, acting with the great- 
est regard to the Treaties they had entered 
into with tlieir Allies, and that at a Time 
when the Exigences of their own Affairs, and 
when the faint feeble Assistance, which their 
Allies had contributed in the common Cause, 
would, among Christian Potentates, have 
been thought a sufficient Excuse for their 
taking Care of themselves separately, in 
329 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

breach of the most solemn Confederacy they 
could enter into. 

The Sachems of the Five Nations being 
met at Onondaga, to consult on the Terms 
offered by the French, they were divided in 
their Opinions ; the Cayugas, and Part of the 
Senekas, were most favorable to the French 
Proposals; but the major Part was absolutely 
against allowing the French to rebuild a Fort 
at Cadarackui, nor would they consent to in- 
clude all the French Allies in the Treaty, 
with some of which they had particular 
Causes of Animosity. 

The Party that was most for Peace obtained 
Leave to go to Canada, to try whether they 
could obtain Terms less disagreeable. They 
accordingly went thither, within the Time 
prefixed by the Governor of Canada, for an 
Answer; and to make themselves more ac- 
ceptable to the French, they carried thirteen 
Prisoners with them, and delivered them up. 
The Jesuit Milet was of this ISTumber, who 
had been taken in the Year 1689, and one 
Jonscaire, who had been long a Prisoner 
among the Senekas : He had been delivered 
up to a Family of the Senekas, that had 
lost some considerable Kelation, and was by 
them adopted. He ingratiated himself so 
much with that Nation, that he was advanced 
to the Rank of a Sachem, and preserved their 
Esteem to the Day of his Death ; whereby he 
230 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

became, after the general Peace, very useful 
to the French in all Negotiations with the 
Five Nations, and to this Day they shew their 
E-egard to his Family and Children. 

When the Governor of Canada came to 
Particulars with these Deputies, he could ob- 
tain nothing but ambiguous or dubious An- 
swers, as to the rebuilding of Cadarackui 
Fort, and the including of all the French 
Allies in the Peace. Whereupon he dis- 
missed them with Presents, and made them 
many fair Promises, in Case of their Compli- 
ance; but threatened them wnth utter De- 
struction, in Case of their refusing the Terms 
he had offered. Many of the French Indian 
Allies were present, when the Governor of 
Canada refused any Agreement without his 
Allies being included in it, and this attached 
them exceedingly to the French Interest. 
This Regard, which the French generally 
shew for the Interest of their Allies, is a 
Piece of Policy which, upon all Occasions, 
proves useful to them ; whereas, the Neglect 
of this Piece of natural Justice has as often 
been prejudicial to others, who have not had 
so tender a Sense of it. But it is not so easy 
for a weak State to keep up its Honour in 
such Cases, as it is for a powerful Prince. 



231 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



CHAP. XI. 

The War renewed. The French rej)ossess 
themselves of Cadarackid Fort, and find 
Means to break off the Treaty between the 
Five Nations and Dionondadies. 

THE Five Nations refusing to come to the 
Governor of Canada's Terms, he re- 
solved to force them ; and as he suspected 
that they continued obsthiate, by the Advice 
of the English, and the Confidence they had 
of the English Assistance, he thought he 
would most effectually lessen that Confi- 
dence, by attacking and destroying the re- 
mainder of the Mohawks, who liv'd adjoining 
to the English Settlements. For this Pur- 
pose he resolved to march, in the Winter, 
the whole Force of Canada against that Na- 
tion ; but one of the Prisoners learning their 
Design, made his Escape, and informed the 
Mohawks of it. This made him alter his 
Measures, knowing well enough, that if the 
English were prepared to receive them, such 
an Enterprize would only lead those engaged 
in it to certain Destruction. He then sent 
three hundred Men into the Neck of Land 
between Lake Erie and Cadarackui Lake, the 
usual hunting Place of the Five Nations, in 
hopes of surprising them while they hunted 
233 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

carelessly there, and at the same Time to 
view the old French Fort there, to observe 
in Avhat Condition it remained. 

This Party met with three or four Men, 
who defended themselves obstinately, till 
they all fell dead on the Spot. They sur- 
prised likewise a Cabin, where they took 
some Men and Women Prisoners ; and four 
of them were publickly burnt alive at Mon- 
treal. So far the Count de Frontenac thought 
it more proper to imitate the Indians in their 
most savage Cruelties, than to instruct them, 
by his Example, in the Compassion of the 
Christian Doctrine. A Party of one hundred 
and fifty of the Five Nations fell upon the 
Dewagunhas, in their Way to Canada, and 
entirely routed them. Ten Prisoners were 
taken, nine of Avhich were burnt alive, in 
revenge of the same Fate the four Men of the 
Five Nations had received at Montreal. 

This Year also some sculking French In- 
dians murdered some People near Albany and 
Schenectady. 

The Party sent to view Cadaraekui Fort 
found it in a better Condition than they ex- 
pected, the Indians having neglected to de- 
molish and level the Bastions, and probably 
they had not Instruments sufficient to do it. 
The Count de Frontenac therefore, in the 
Summer of the Year 1695, sent a considerable 
Body of Men, both French and Indians, 
383 



THE HISTOHY OF THE 

thither, to repair the Fortifications, and to 
cover those that should be at work. The 
Five Nations, in August, sent Messengers to 
Albany, to acquaint the English that the 
French had taken Possession of Cadarackui, 
and were repairing of it. They demanded, 
in Consequence of the Promise Colonel 
Fletcher had given them, the Assistance of 
five hundred Men and some Canon, which 
they promised they would draw over Land, 
where they could not be carried by Water. 
At the same Time they desired, that the 
People of New-England might be told, that 
many of the Owenagungas were gone with 
the French to Cadarackui, and that this was a 
proper Time to fall upon those that remained, 
and to destroy them, and the Women and 
Children. 

Coll. Fletcher came to Albany in Septem- 
ber; there, in a Speech to the Five Nations, 
he blamed them for being asleep, when they 
suffered the French to take Possession of 
Cadarackui ; it would have been much easier, 
he said, to have prevented their getting the 
Possession, than to drive them out, now they 
are in it, especially as now you yourselves are 
convinced, that it is impossible to carry Can- 
non thither from this Place. All, says he, I 
can now do, is to advise you to invest the 
Place with your Parties, so as to prevent 
their receiving any Supply of Provisions: 

2a4 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

By this Means you may force them to desert 
it. Then he gave them 1000 Pound of Pow- 
der, two Thousand Pound of Lead, 57 
Fusees, one Hundred Hatchets, three Hun- 
dred and forty eight Knives, and two Thou- 
sand Flints, besides Cloathing, &c. But in 
my Opinion, the Government of New-York 
have, on all Occasions, been exceedingly to 
be blamed, in not having some Men of Ex- 
perience among the Five Nations to advise 
and direct them on all Emergencies of Im- 
portance. The French are very careful of 
this, and the Officers of the regular Troops 
are obliged to take their Tours among their 
Indians, while the Captains of the independ- 
ent Companies of Fusiliers at New-York live 
like military Monks, in Idleness and Luxury. 

The French gained a great Advantage, by 
possessing this Place, as it is of great Security 
to their Traders, in their passing between 
Montreal and Missilimakinak. It served like- 
wise as Place of Stores, and Retreat in all 
their Enterprises against the Five Nations, 
that Place being nearly about half Way be- 
tween Montreal and the Country of the Five 
Nations. It likewise exposed the Five Na- 
tions in their hunting, to the Incursions of 
that Garison, by its being in the Neighbour- 
hood of their principal hunting Place for 
Bever. 

The French grew exceedingly uneasy, when 
235 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

they found, that the Dionondadies, who live 
near Missilimakinak, had almost concluded 
a Peace with the Five Nations, and that the 
rest of their Allies were like to follow their 
Example : Some of these Nations had been at 
Montreal, and at their Return forwarded the 
Peace, that thereby they might be at Liberty 
to go to Albany ; for they informed their 
Neighbours, that the Five Nations had in- 
tirely shut up the Path to Montreal ; and be- 
sides that, the French were not in a Condi- 
tion to supply them, for they had nothing for 
themselves, not so much as a Drop of strong 
Spirits. If these Nations had, at that Time, 
deserted the French, it might probably have 
put an End to the French Colony ; for as the 
Lands of Canada barely produce sufficient for 
the Subsistence of its Inhabitants, the only 
Means they have of purchasing Cloathing and 
other Necessaries is by their Trade with the 
Indians. The French likewise had been in 
Danger of greater Mischief by the Peace, for 
these Nations being at War with the Five 
Nations, and lying on the Back of them, 
obliged the Five Nations to keep always 
a very considerable Part of their Force at 
home, to defend themselves against these 
Nations, and to revenge the Injuries they re- 
ceived from them ; but if the Peace had been 
concluded with these Nations, the Five Na- 
tions could have turned their whole Force 
236 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

against Canada, and probably might have 
l)ersuaded these Nations to have joined with 
them in warring on the French. 

Tlie French Commandant at Missilimaki- 
nak had his Hands full at this Time ; and if 
he had not been a Man of great Abilities, he 
must have sunk under the Difficulties he had 
to go through ; in the first Place, to contra- 
dict the Stories brought from Montreal, he 
ordered the Stores of his Fort to be sold to 
the Indians at the cheapest Kate, and assured 
them, that great Quantities were every Day 
expected from France, which were only de- 
tained by contrary Winds ; and after these 
Goods shall arrive, said he, they will be sold 
cheaper than ever they have been. He told 
them likewise, that the Count de Frontenac 
would never make Peace with the Five Na- 
tions, but was resolved to extirpate them ; 
for which Purpose he was now rebuilding 
Cadarackui Fort. At the same Time he took 
all possible Methods to extinguish the Begin- 
nings of Friendship, which appeared between 
the Five Nations and Dionondadies. 

The Dionondadies durst not avow their 
treating with the Five Nations to the French, 
neither durst the Five Nations trust their 
Agents in a Place where they knew the 
French had so great Influence; both Sides 
therefore agreed to carry on their Treaty by 
Means of Prisoners which they took from one 
237 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

another. The Civility with which the Dio- 
nondaclies treated these Prisoners, their dis- 
missing them, and their receiving agam Pris- 
oners which had been taken by the Five 
Nations, gave the Commandant sufficient 
Ground to suspect what was doing. The 
Dionondadies at last took seven Men of the 
Five Nations Prisoners, and carried them to 
Missilimakinak. The French perceiving, by 
their Manner of bringing them in, that the 
Dionondadies intended to treat them with the 
Civility they had lately used to others, mur- 
dered two of them with their Knives as they 
stept ashore. On this the Dionondadies im- 
mediately took to their Arms, saved the other 
Five, and carried them safe to their Castle ; 
and continuing in Arms, threatened Revenge 
for the Insult they had received. 

The French were forced in like Manner to 
stand to their Arms, and as there are always 
many different Nations at Missilimakinak 
trading, some of which were inveterate Ene- 
mies of the Five Nations, they joined with 
the French. The Utawawas stood neuter. 
This gave the Commandant Means of ending 
the Dispute b}^ Composition. He in the first 
Place assured them, that the Christians al)- 
horred all Manner of Cruelty, and then told 
them, that as the French shared with the 
Dionondadies in all the Dangers and Losses 
sustained by the War, they ought in like 
338 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Manner to partake with them in any A dvan- 
tage. The Dionondadies on this were per- 
suaded to deliver up one of the Prisoners. 
What I am about to relate, I think, gives 
Koom to charge the French with a Piece of 
Policy, not only inconsistent with the Chris- 
tian Keligion, but likewise with the Charac- 
ter of a polite People ; and that all Consider- 
ations from Religion, Honour, and Virtue, 
must give Way to the present Exigencies of 
their Affairs, That an End might be put to 
the Beginnings of a Reconciliation between 
these People and the Five Nations, the French 
gave apublick Invitation to feast on the Soup 
to be made on this Prisoner, and, in a more 
particular Manner, invited the Utawawas to 
the Entertainment. 

The Prisoner being first made fast to a 
Stake, so as to have Room to move round it, 
a Frenchman began the horrid Tragedy, by 
broiling the Flesh of the Prisoner's Legs, 
from his Toes to his Knees, with the red hot 
Barrel of a Gun; his Example was followed 
by an Utawawa, and they relieved one an- 
other as they grew tired. The Prisoner all 
this while continued his Death Song, till they 
clapt a red hot Frying-pan on his Buttocks, 
when he cried out, Fire is strong and too 
powerful ; then all their Indians mocked him, 
as wanting Courage and Resolution. You, 
they said, a Soldier and a Captaiu, as you 
239 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

say, and afraid of Fire; you are not a Man. 
They continued their Torments for two Hours 
without ceasing. An Utawawa being desir- 
ous to outdo the French in their refined 
Cruelty, split a Furrow from the Prisoner's 
Shoulder to his Garter, and filling it with 
Gunpowder, set Fire to it. This gave him 
exquisite Pain, and raised excessive Laughter 
in his Tormenters. When they found his 
Throat so much parched, that he was no 
longer able to gratify their Ears with his 
howling, they gave him Water, to enable him 
to continue their Pleasure longer. But at 
last his Strength failing, an Utawawa flead 
off his Scalp, and threw burning hot Coals 
on his Scull. Then they untied him, and bid 
him run for his Life : He began to run, tum- 
bling like a drunken Man ; they shut up the 
Way to the East, and made him run West- 
ward, the Country, as they think, of departed 
(miserable) Souls. He had still Force left 
to throw Stones, till they put an End to his 
Misery by knocking him on the Head with a 
Stone. After this every one cut a Slice from 
his Body, to conclude the Tragedy with a 
Feast. It is doing no Injury, I think, to 
these Frenchmen, who thus glory in this hor- 
rid Cruelty, to ask them, whether they did 
not likewise regale their revengeful Appetites 
with a Share of this inhuman Feast? 

Though I have had frequent Occasions to 
340 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, iic. 

mention these barbarous inliuman Cruelties, 
transacted by the Indians, yet 1 have avoided 
to relate the particular Circumstances of 
them, because I believe few civilized Ears 
can bear the reading of them without Horror. 
But when they are perpetrated by Christians, 
and so far gloried in, as to be recorded in 
their own History, I am willing to shew it to 
my Countrymen in its proper Colours. This 
last Piece of French History is taken from 
Histoire de I'Amerique Septentrionale, par 
Monsr. de la Poterie, published at Paris with 
the Royal Licence, and recommended to the 
Publick by Mons. Fontenelle, Vol. ii. Page 
298. 

Though this cruel Act had its designed 
Effect, in breaking off this Method of negoti- 
ating between the Five Nations and Dionon- 
dadies, it did not prevent the Peace ; and it 
had very near raised a Civil War with their 
own Indians, which was only prevented by 
the dextrous Conduct of the French Officers, 
who, in all kind of Artifice, have always 
been superior to the Indians. But let me ob- 
serve on this Occasion, that the avoiding any 
Misfortune, by any base or wicked Action, is 
commonly the Cause of greater Mischiefs than 
what is thereby avoided ; and of this numer- 
ous Examples may be given. 



Vol. I.— 16 341 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



CHAP. XII. 

The Count de Fi'ontenac attacks Onondaga 
in Perso7i, tvlth the 'whole Force of Canada. 
The Five Nations continue the War tvlth 
the French, and make Peace with the 
Dio7iondadies. 

THE Count de Frontenac having secured 
Cadarackui Fort, which was called by 
his Name, as a Place of Arms and Provi- 
sions, and for a Retreat to the Men that 
should happen to be sick or wounded, re- 
solved to make the Five Nations feel his Re- 
sentment of their refusing his Terms of Peace. 
For this Purpose he assembled all the regular 
Troops of Canada, the Militia, the Owenagun- 
gas, the Quatoghies of Loretto, the Adiron- 
dacks, Sokokies, Nepiciriniens, the Praying 
Indians of the Five Nations, and a few Uta- 
wawas, at Montreal, in June 1696. The 
other western Indians near Missilimakinak, 
by their late Correspondence with the Five 
Nations, and the Dissatisfaction they had 
manifested, were not trusted. The Manner 
of making War with the Indians in a Country 
wholly covered with Woods, must be so much 
different from the Methods used in Europe, 
that I believe the Reader will be pleased to 
have a particular Account of the Count de 
343 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Frontenac's Conduct in this, who was an okl 
experienced General, in the seventy fourth 
Year of his Age. 

It is to be observed, that it is impossible to 
pass the vast Forests between the Countries 
of the Five Nations with Waggons, or other 
Carriages, or on Horseback, or even on Foot, 
in the summer Time, by Reason of many im- 
passible thick Swamps and Morasses. For 
this Reason, the only Method of travelling is 
in Bark Canoes, or very light Battoes, along 
the Rivers, which may be easily carried on 
Men's Shoulders, where the Stream of the 
River becomes too rapid, and from one River 
to another; for which Purpose the shortest 
Passes are always chosen, and are called, for 
this Reason, Carrying Places. 

The Count de Frontenac marched from la 
Chine, in the south End of the Island of 
Montreal, the fourth of July. He divided 
five hundred Indians so, that the greatest 
Number of them should always be in the 
Van, which consisted of two Battalions of 
the regular Troops. They were followed by 
the Canoes which carried the Provisions. The 
Van was commanded by the Chevalier de 
Callieres, Governor of Montreal ; he had with 
him two large Battoes, which carried two 
small Pieces of Cannon, small Mortars, 
Granadoes, and the Utensils of the Artillery. 
The Count de Frontenac was at the Head of 
243 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the main Body, accompanied by the Engineer 
and several Gentlemen Voluntiers. The 
Body consisted of four Battalions of the 
Militia, who, in War with Indians, were then 
more depended on than the regular Troops ; 
these were commanded by JNIonsieur Ramsay, 
Governor of Trois Rivieres. The Rear, 
which consisted of two Battalions of regular 
Troops, and of the rest of the Indians, was 
under the Command of the Chevalier de 
Vaudreuil. All the Indians had French Offi- 
cers set over them. 

In this Order the Army marched, only 
those that were in the Van one Day, were 
in the Rear the next ; and they always kept 
a Number of Indians on the Scout, to dis- 
cover the Tracks of the Enemy, for fear of 
Ambuscades. And when they were obliged 
to carry the Canoes, and drag the large Bat- 
toes, several Parties were detached to cover 
the Men that worked. 

After twelve Days March they arrived at 
Cadarackui Fort, one hundred eighty Miles 
from Montreal. Here they waited for the 
Utawawas, who disappointed them; and in 
the mean Time raised a Bark, which had 
remained sunk since Cadarackui Fort was de- 
serted. They crossed over Cadarackui Lake 
to Onondaga River (now Ohswega). This 
River being narrow and rapid, they ordered 
fifty Men to march on each Side of it, to 
244 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

prevent their being surprised, and the Army 
moved slowly along the River, according to 
the Intelligence they received from their 
scouts. They found a Tree, as they passed 
along, on which the Indians had, in their 
Manner, painted the French Army, and had 
laid by it two Bundles of cut Rushes. This 
was a Deliance in the Indian Manner, and to 
tell them by the Number of Rushes, that 
fourteen hundred thirty four Men would meet 
them. The French passed the little Lake, 
between Ohswega and Onondaga, in Order of 
Battle ; and the two Wings, to prevent their 
being surprised, and to make the Place of 
their Landing more uncertain to the Enemy, 
took a Circuit along the Coast. As soon as 
they had landed they raised a Fort. A Sen- 
eka, who had been some time a Prisoner in 
Canada, and pretended an Attachment to the 
F^rench, was sent out to make a Discovery. 
He deserted to the Onondagas. He found 
them waiting for the French, with a Resolu- 
tion to defend their Castle, and to fight the 
French; for which Purpose they had sent 
away their Women and Children. The Sen- 
eka told them that the French Army was as 
numerous as the Leaves on the Trees ; that 
they had Machines which threw Balls up in 
the Air, and which falling on their Castle 
burst to Pieces, and spread Fire and Death 
every where, against which their Stockadoes 
245 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

could be of no Defence. This was confirmed 
by another Seneka, who deserted. Upon 
which the Onondagas thought it most advise- 
able to retire, leaving their poor Fort and 
bark Cottages all in Flames. 

After the General had an Account of this, 
he marched to their Village in Order of Bat- 
tle. The Army was divided into two Lines : 
The first commanded by the Chevalier de 
Callieres, who placed himself on the Left, 
consisted of two Battalions of the Inhabi- 
tants in the Center, and a Battalion of the 
regular Troops on each Wing. The Artillery 
followed them. Most of the Indians of this 
Division were upon the Eight, who continu- 
ally sent out Scouts. The second Line was 
commanded by the Chevalier de Vaudreuil, 
composed of the same Number of Battalions, 
and in the same Order. The Count de Fron- 
tenac was carried in a Chair directly after the 
Artillery. But it was impossible for them to 
keep their Order, in passing through thick 
Woods, and in passing Brooks. In this for- 
midable Manner the aged General marched up 
to the Ashes of the Village, and his Army 
exerted their Fury on the Indian Corn, which 
covered a large Field in thick Ranks. 

An Indian Sachem, about one hundred 

Years old, would not retire with the rest, but 

chose this Time to end his Days. The 

French Indians had the Pleasure of torment- 

246 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

ing him, which he bore with surprising Even- 
ness of Mind, and with that Resohition which 
becomes a Sachem of the Five Nations. He 
told his Tormentors to remember well his 
Death, when his Countrymen should come to 
take terrible Vengeance of them. Upon 
which, one stabbing him several Times with 
his Knife, he thanked him but said, you had 
better make me die by Fire, that these Dogs 
of Frenchmen may learn how to suffer like 
Men. You Indians, their Allies, you Dogs 
of Dogs, think of me when you shall be in 
the like State. Thus this old Sachem, under 
all the Weakness of old Age, preserved a 
Greatness of Soul, and a due Eegard for the 
Honour of his Country, to the last Moment 
of his Breath. 

The Chevalier de Vaudreuil was sent with 
a Detachment of six or seven hundred Men 
to destroy the Oneydoes Corn, who liv'd bat 
a small Distance from Onondaga, which he 
performed without any Resistance. The 
Jesuit Milet had lived for the most Part with 
the Oneydoes ; he had infused into them the 
most favourable Sentiments of the French, 
and they had been the most inclined to Peace 
on the French Terms. Thirty five of them 
staid in their Castle to make the French wel- 
come; but the only Favour they obtained, 
was to be made Prisoners, and carried to 
Montreal. The French Governor declared 
247 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

his Eesolutions to extirpate the Onondagas, 
and for that Keasoii gave Orders to give no 
Quarter. 

The Difficulty of supporting so many Men 
in these Deserts, made it necessary for the 
Count de Frontenac to return as speedily as 
possible. Though the French Army was 
much an Overmatch for the Onondagas, both 
in Number of Men and in their Arms, the 
Onondagas were not so far dispirited, as not 
to follow them in their Eeturn. They found 
Opportunities to revenge themselves in some 
Measure, by cutting off every Canoe that 
happened at any Time to be at a Distance 
from the main Body. This obliged the Count 
to hasten his March, so that he returned to 
Montreal the tenth of August. 

The Onondagas suffered nothing by this 
chargeable Expedition, but the Loss of their 
Corn, and their Bark Cottages. They lost 
not one Man, but the old Sachem, who re- 
solved to die a Martyr to his Country's 
Honour. The French suffered considerably 
by its Consequences; for all the Planters 
being taken off from their Labour, either in 
this Expedition, or in watching and securing 
their Forts and Country, a Famine ensued ; 
and this I find has often happened in Can- 
ada, where all the Men, fit to bear Arms, 
have been employed in such like Expeditions. 
If the Oneydoes had not timely surrendered 
248 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

themselves, the Count had not been able to 
have carried Home the least Token of a Vic- 
tory. And all that can be said for this En- 
terprize is, that it was a kind of heroick 
Dotage. 

The Influence that the Jesuit Milet had 
obtained over the Oneydoes was such, that 
some Time after this, thirty of them deserted 
to the French, and desired that he might be 
appointed their Pastor. 

In the following Winter the Mohawks, 
with the Governor of New- York's Privacy, 
sent one to the Praying Indians witli two 
Belts, and he carried two Prisoners with him. 
By the first Belt he asked, whether the Path 
was entirely shut up between their two Coun- 
tries; and, by the second, demanded the 
Restitution of a Prisoner the Praying In- 
dians had taken : But his real Design was, 
to learn the State of their Country, and what 
Designs were forming. Notwithstanding the 
Influence and Artifice of the French Priests 
over these Converts, they still retained an 
Affection to their Countrymen ; for which 
Reason the Count de Frontenac entertained 
a Jealousy of these Intercourses, and threat- 
ened to put to Death any that should come 
in that Manner again; but the Messenger 
had the Satisfaction of discovering the dis- 
tressed Condition of Canada by Famine. 

A Party of the French was sent out in the 
249 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

Winter, to make some attempt upon the Eng- 
lish Settlements near Albany ; but some Mo- 
hawks and Scahkook Indians meeting with 
them, before they reached the Settlements, 
they were intirely routed. The commanding 
Officer, one du Bau, and two others, saved 
themselves from the Fury of the Indians, by 
running to Albany; the rest were either 
killed or perished in the Woods, so that not 
one Man of this Party got back to Canada. 

It was much easier for the French to set 
the Praying Indians upon the English, 
against whom it is possible many of them had 
personal Animosities, that made them go over 
to the French, than to fight their Country- 
men. Several of them came this Winter 
skulking about Schenectady and Albany ; and 
being well acquainted with the Country, and 
speaking likewise the Mohawk's Language, 
by which they sometimes deceived the Inhab- 
itants, they surprised some of the Inhabitants, 
and carried away their Scalps. 

The Five Nations, to shew that the Count 
de Frontenac's Expedition had no Way dis- 
couraged them, sent out several Parties 
against Canada. One of them met with a 
Party of French upon St. Laurence River, 
near Montreal. The French were routed, 
and their Captain killed. As soon as this 
was heard at Montreal, Repentigni was sent 
out after them with a consderable Party of 
250 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

French, Nepicirinien Indians and Praying 
Indians; but this Party was likewise de- 
feated, and the Captain, with many of his 
Men, killed. 

Thus the War was continued till the Peace 
of Eeswick, by small Parties of Indians, on 
both Sides, harassing, surprising, and scalp- 
ing the Inhabitants near Montreal and Al- 
bany. 

Some Time this Year the chief Sachem of 
the Dionondadies (whom the French call the 
Baron) went to Quebeck, pretending a strong 
Attachment to the French, but really to con- 
ceal the Treaty of Peace that he was on the 
Point of concluding with the Five Nations ; 
for which Purpose he had sent his Son with 
nineteen Belts to the Senekas. The Sub- 
stance of whose Commission was as follows : 

The French have for many Years con- 
founded our Besolutions, and deceived us, but 
now we are resolved to break all their Artifi- 
ces, by stopping our Ears. We come now to 
unite with you, while the French know noth- 
ing of the Matter. The Commandant at Mis- 
silimakinak has told us many Lies, he has be- 
trayed us, and made us kill one another, but 
we are firmly resolved never to hearken to 
him any more. The Peace was accordingly 
firmly concluded, notwithstanding all the 
Opposition the French could make. The 
French Authors say, the only Keason that 
251 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

induced the Dionondadies was, that the Eng- 
lish sold them Goods cheaper than the French 
could. 

Some Time before the News of the Peace 
arrived, the French at Montreal being in- 
formed that a Party of the Five Nations were 
discovered near Corlear's Lake, sent out a 
Captain with a Party of Soldiers and Indians, 
who being well experienced in the Manner of 
making War with Indians, marched through 
the thickest Woods, and by the least fre- 
quented Places, so that he discovered the 
Enemy, without being discovered. He sur- 
prised that Party, killed several, and took 
one Prisoner. The Utawawas being then 
trading at Montreal, the Count de Frontenac 
invited them to a Feast to be made of this 
Prisoner, and caused him to be burnt pub- 
lickly alive at Montreal, in the Manner of 
which I have already given two Accounts 
from the French Authors. 



252 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 



CHAP. XIII. 

The Conduct wliich the English and French 
observed, in regard to the Five Nations, 
immediately after the Peace of Reswick. 

SOOX after the News of the Peace of Res- 
wick reached New- York, the Governor 
sent an Express to Canada, to inform the 
Governor there of it, tliat Hostilities might 
cease. The Five Nations having an Account 
of the Peace earlier than they had it in Can- 
ada, took Advantage of it, in hunting Bever 
near Cadarackui Fort. The Governor of Can- 
ada being informed of this, and believing that 
the Five Nations thought themselves secure 
by the general Peace, resolved to take his last 
Eevenge of them. For this Purpose he sent 
a considerable I'arty of Adirondacks to sur- 
prise them, which they did, and killed sev- 
eral, but not without Loss of many of their 
own Men. The Loss of one of their greatest 
Captains at that Time gave the Five Nations 
the greatest Affliction. After he was mor- 
tally wounded, he cried out : " Must I, who 
have made the whole Earth tremble before 
me, now die by the Hands of Children? " 
for he despised the Adirondacks. 

A Dispute at this Time arose, between the 
Government of New- York and Canada, about 
253 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

the French Prisoners which the Five Nations 
had in their Hands. The Earl of Eellamont, 
then Governor of New-York, would have tlie 
French receive those Prisoners from him, and 
directed the Five Nations to bring them to 
Albany for that Purpose. The French, on 
the other Hand, refused to own the Five 
Nations as subject to the Crown of Great- 
Britain, and threatened to continue the War 
against the Five Nations, if they did not 
bring the Prisoners to Montreal, and deliver 
them there. The Count de Frontenac sent 
some of the Praying Indians with a Message 
to this Purpose, and to have all the French 
Allies included in the general Peace. 

The Messenger on his Keturn told the 
Count, publickly in Presence of several Uta- 
wawas, that the Five Nations refused to in- 
clude several of his Allies, but were resolved 
to revenge the Injuries they had received. 
The Utawawas were exceedingly discomposed 
at hearing this, and the Count, to recover 
their Spirits, assured them, that he never 
would make Peace without including all his 
Allies in it, and without having all their 
Prisoners restored. At the same Time he 
made Preparations to attack the Five Nations 
with the whole Force of Canada. 

The Earl of Bellamont being informed of 
this, sent Captain John Schuyler (of the 
Militia) to tell the Count, that he had the 
254 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Interest of the King his Master too much at 
Heart, to suffer the French to treat the Five 
Nations like Enemies, after the Conclusion 
of the general Peace ; for which Reason he 
had ordered them to be on their Guard, and 
had furnished them with Arms and Ammu- 
nition ; that he had ordered the Lieutenant- 
Governor, in Case they were attacked, either 
by the French or their Allies, to join them 
with the regular Troops ; and that, if he found 
it necessary, he would raise the whole Force 
of his Government in their Defence. 

This put a Stop to the French Threatening, 
and both Sides made Complaint to their Mas- 
ters. The two Kings ordered their respective 
Governors to be assisting to each other, in 
making the Peace effectual to both Nations, 
and to leave the Disputes, as to the Depend- 
ency of the Indian Nations, to be determined 
by Commissioners, to be appointed pursuant 
to the Treaty of Reswick. 

It is exceedingly impolitick, when weaker 
Potentates, ingaged in a (.oiifederacy against 
one powerful Prince, leave any Points to be 
determined after the Conclusion of a Peace ; 
for if they cannot obtain a concession, while 
the Confederacy stands and their Force is 
united, how can a weaker Prince hope to 
obtain it, when he is left alone to himself, 
after the Confederacy is dissolved? The 
French have so often found the Benefit of 
355 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

this Piece of Imprudence, that in all their 
Treaties they use all the Cajoling, and every 
Artifice in their Power, to obtain this Ad- 
vantage, and they seldom miss it. 

About the Time of the Conclusion of the 
Peace at Reswick, the noted Therouet died 
at Montreal. The French gave him Christian 
Burial in a pompous ^Manner, the Priest, that 
attended him at his Death, having declared 
that he died a true Christian ; for, said the 
Priest, while I explained to him the Passion 
of our Saviour, whom the Jews crucified, he 
cried out; "Oh! had I been there, I would 
have revenged his Death, and brought away 
their Scalps." 

Soon after the Peace was known at Mon- 
treal, three considerable Men of the Praying 
Indians came to Albany ; they had fine laced 
Coats given them, and were invited to return 
to their own Country. They answered, that 
they were young Men, and had not Skill to 
make a suitable Answer, and had not their 
ancient Men to consult with ; but promised to 
communicate the Proposals to their old Men, 
and would bring back an Answer in the Fall. 
I find nothing more of this in the Register of 
Indian Affairs, though it might have been of 
great Consequence had it been pursued to 
Purpose; but such Matters, where there is 
not an immediate private Profit, are seldom 
pursued by the English with that Care and 
256 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

Assiduity, with which they are by the 
French. 

While Captain Schuyler was in Canada, 
he entered into some indiscreet Discourse with 
Monsieur Maricour, for whom the Five ISTa- 
tions had a particular Esteem, and call Stow- 
to wisse. Captain Schuyler, in assertinix tlie 
Dependency of the Five Nations on New- 
York, said, that those N"ations were their 
Slaves. Mr. Maricour told this Discourse to 
an Onondaga, with all the Aggravations he 
could, and added, that it was intirely owing 
to the English that the Peace Avas not abso- 
lutely concluded, and that Captain Schuyler 
prevented their Prisoners being I'estored, be- 
cause he would have them sent to Albany, as 
being Slaves to the English. That the French 
had no Dispute with the English, but for the 
Independency of the Five Nations. This in- 
discreet Conduct of Captain Schuyler was so 
much resented by the Five Nations, that a 
Deputation of the most considerable Sachems 
was sent to Albany in June 1699, to complain 
of it; and they sent at the same Time Depu- 
ties to Canada to conclude the Peace, inde- 
pendently of the English. These Deputies 
that came to Albany were so far convinced 
that the French had abused them, and how 
much more it was for their Security to be 
included in the general Peace with the Eng- 
lish, than to have only the French Faith for 
Vol. I.~17 257 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

their Security, that they immediately dis- 
patched a Messenger after their Deputies that 
were gone to Canada. Though this Messen- 
ger reached them too late to stop their Pro- 
ceeding, it convinced the Deputies so far of 
its being for their Interest to be joined with 
the English in the Peace, as they had been 
in the War, that they insisted that the Ex- 
change of Prisoners be made at Albany. At 
the same Time the Messenger was sent after 
their Deputies to Canada, Colonel Peter 
Schuyler was sent with others to Onondago, 
to remove the Prejudices they had received 
there. 

The Count de Frontenac died while these 
Disputes continued. Monsieur de Callieres, 
who succeeded him, put an End to them, by 
agreeing to send to Onondaga to regulate the 
Exchange of Prisoners there ; for which Pur- 
pose Monsieur Maricour, loncaire, and the 
Jesuit Bruyas, were sent. 

When the French Commissioners were 
come within less than a Mile of Onondaga 
Castle, they put themselves in Order and 
marched with the French Colours carried be- 
fore them, and with as much Show as they 
could make. Decanesora met them without 
the Gate, and complimented them with three 
Strings of Wampum. By the first he wiped 
away their Tears for the French that had 
been slain in the War. By the second he 
258 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

opened their Mouths, that they might speak 
freely; that is, promised them freedom of 
Speech. By the third he cleaned the Matt, 
on which they were to sit, from the Blood 
that had been spilt on both Sides : The Com- 
pliment was returned by the Jesuit, then they 
entered the Fort, and were saluted with a 
general Discharge of all the fire Arms. They 
were carried to the best Cabin in the Fort, 
and there entertained with a Feast. The 
Deputies of the several Nations not being all 
arrived, the Jesuit, and Monsieur Maricour, 
passed the Time in visiting and conversing 
Avith the French Prisoners. The General 
Council being at last met, the Jesuit made 
the following Speech, which I take from the 
Relation the Five Nations afterwards made 
of it to the Earl of Bellamont. 

"1. I am glad to see the Five Nations, and 
that some of them went to Canada, notwith- 
standing Corlear forbid them : I am sorry for 
the Loss of your People killed by the remote 
Indians; I condole their Death, and wipe 
away the Blood by this Belt. 

" 2. The War Kettle boiled so long, that 
it could have scalded all the Five Nations had 
it continued; but now it is overset, and 
turned upside down, and a firm Peace made. 

"3. I now plant the Tree of Peace and 
Welfare at Onondaga. 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

"4. Keep fast the Chain you have made 
with Corlear, for now we have one Heart and 
one Interest with them ; but why is Corlear 
against your corresponding with us, ought 
we not to converse together when we are at 
Peace and in Friendship? 

" 5. Deliver up the French Prisoners you 
have, and we shall deliver not only those 
of your Nation we have, but all those like- 
wise taken by any of our Allies; and gave 
a Belt. 

"6. I offer myself to you to live with you 
at Onondaga, to instruct you in the Christian 
Religion, and to drive away all Sickness, 
Plagues and Diseases out of your Country, 
and gave a third Belt. 

" 7. This last Belt, he said, is from the 
Kondaxe, or French Indians, to desire Resti- 
tution of the Prisoners taken from them." 

The Jesuit in the Conclusion said ; " Why 
does nor Corlear tell you what passes be- 
tween the Governor of Canada and him? He 
keeps you in the Dark, while the Governor 
of Canada conceals nothing from his Chil- 
dren. Nor does the Governor of Canada 
claim your Land, as Corlear does. " 

The General Council immediately rejected 
the Belt by which the Jesuit offered to stay 
with them, saying, We have already accepted 
Corlear' s Belt, by which he offers us Pastors 
to instruct us. Decanesora added, The Jes- 
260 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

uits have always deceived us, for while they 
preached Peace, the French came and 
knocked us on the Head. To this the Jesuit 
replied, that if he had known that Corlear 
intended to send them Pastors, he would not 
have offered this Belt. 

It is to be observed that the Indian Council 
refused to hear the French, or to give them 
an Answer, but in Presence of the Commis- 
sioners from Albany. 

The French Commissioners having assured 
the Peace with the Five Nations, the Inhab- 
itants of Canada esteemed it the greatest 
Blessing that could be procured for them 
from Heaven ; for nothing could be more ter- 
rible than this last War with the Five Na- 
tions. While this War lasted, the Inhabi- 
tants eat their Bread in continual Fear and 
Trembling. No Man was sure, when out of 
his House, of ever returning to it again. 
While they laboured in the Fields, they were 
under perpetual Apprehensions of being 
killed or seized, and carried to the Indian 
Country, there to end their Days in cruel 
Torments. They many Times were forced 
to neglect both their Seed Time and Harvest. 
The Landlord often saw all his Land plun- 
dered, his Houses burnt, and the whole 
Country ruined, while they thought their 
Persons not safe in their Fortifications. In 
short, all Trade and Business was often at an 
261 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

intire Stand, while Fear, Despair, and Mis- 
ery appeared in the Faces of the poor Inhab- 
itants. 

The French Commissioners carried several 
of the principal Sachems of the Five Na- 
tions back with them, who were received at 
]\Iontreal with great Joy. They were saluted 
by a Discharge of all the great Guns round 
the Place, as they entered. The French 
Allies took this amiss, and asked if their 
Governor was entering. They were told, 
that it was a Compliment paid to the Five 
Nations, whose Sachems were then entering 
the Town. We i:)erceive, they replied, that 
Fear makes the French shew more Eespect 
to their Eenemies than Love can make them 
do to their Friends. 

Monsieur de Callieres assembled all the 
French Allies, (who were then very numer- 
ous at Montreal) to make the Exchange of 
Prisoners, and they delivered the Prisoners 
they had taken, though the Five Nations had 
sent none to be exchanged for them. Thus 
we see a brave People struggle with every 
Difficulty, till they can get out of it with 
Honour; and such People always gain Ee- 
spect, even from their most inveterate Ene- 
mies. 

I shall finish this Part by observing, that 
notwithstanding the French Commissioners 
took all the Pains possible to carry Home 
263 



FIVE INDIAN NATIONS, &c. 

the French, that were Prisoners with the Five 
Nations, and they had full Liberty from the 
Indians, few of them could be persuaded to 
return. It may be thought that this was oc- 
casioned from the Hardships they had en- 
dured in their own Country, under a tyran- 
nical Government and a barren Soil : But this 
certainly was not the only Reason ; for the 
English had as much Difficulty to persuade 
the People, that had been taken Prisoners by 
the French Indians, to leave the Indian 
Manner of living, though no People enjoy 
more Liberty, and live in greater Plenty, 
than the common Inhabitants of New-York 
do No Arguments, no Intreaties, nor Tears 
of their Friends and Relations, could per- 
suade many of them to leave their new Indian 
Friends and Acquaintance ; several of them 
that were by the Caressings of their Rela- 
tions persuaded to come Home, in a little 
Time grew tired of our Manner of living, and 
run away again to the Indians, and ended 
their Days with them. On the other Hand, 
Indian Children have been carefully educated 
among the English, cloathed and taught, yet, 
I think, there is not one Instance, that any 
of these, after they had Liberty to go among 
their own People, and were come to Age, 
would remain with the English, but returned 
to their own Nations, and became as fond of 
the Indian Manner of Life as those that knew 
263 



THE HISTORY OF THE 

nothing of a civilized Manner of living. 
AVhat I now tell of Christian Prisoners among 
Indians, relates not only to what happened 
at the Conclusion of this War, but has been 
found true on many other Occasions. 



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